3-D reels and 3-D wheels in a gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A gaming machine is configured to receive a request for a location of at least one player of at least one gaming device, determine the location of the at least one player; and present on a display of the gaming machine, location information including the determined location of the at least one player. Where the gaming machine is located within a casino, the gaming machine may further be configured to present, on the display, a 3D virtual gaming environment which is a model of the casino.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to and thebenefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/285,116, filed on May22, 2014, which is a continuation of, and claims priority to and thebenefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/863,975, filed on Apr.16, 2013, now abandoned, which is a continuation of, and claims priorityto and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/618,456,filed on Sep. 14, 2012, now abandoned, which is a continuation of, andclaims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/555,811, filed on Jul. 23, 2012, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,523,672 on Sep. 3, 2013, which is a continuation of, and claimspriority to and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/674,884, filed on Sep. 29, 2003, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,267,767 on Sep. 18, 2012, which: (a) is a continuation-in-part of, andclaims priority to and the benefit of, U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/927,901, filed on Aug. 9, 2001, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,887,157 on May 3, 2005; and (b) claims priority to and the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/415,114, filed on Sep. 30,2002, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to game presentation methods for gaming machinessuch as slot machines and video poker machines. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to apparatus and methods of for displayinggame presentations derived from a 3-D gaming environment.

As technology in the gaming industry progresses, the traditionalmechanically driven reel slot machines are being replaced withelectronic counterparts having CRT, LCD video displays or the like.These video/electronic gaming advancements enable the operation of morecomplex games, which would not otherwise be possible onmechanical-driven gaming machines. Gaming machines such as video slotmachines and video poker machines are becoming increasingly popular.Part of the reason for their increased popularity is the nearly endlessvariety of games that can be implemented on gaming machines utilizingadvanced electronic technology.

There are a wide variety of associated devices that can be connected tovideo gaming machines such as video slot machines and video pokermachines. Some examples of these devices are lights, ticket printers,card readers, speakers, bill validators, ticket readers, coin acceptors,display panels, key pads, coin hoppers and button pads. Many of thesedevices are built into the gaming machine or components associated withthe gaming machine such as a top box, which usually sits on top of thegaming machine.

Typically, utilizing a master gaming controller, the gaming machinecontrols various combinations of devices that allow a player to play agame on the gaming machine and also encourage game play on the gamingmachine. For example, a game played on a gaming machine usually requiresa player to input money or indicia of credit into the gaming machine,indicate a wager amount, and initiate a game play. These steps requirethe gaming machine to control input devices, including bill validatorsand coin acceptors, to accept money into the gaming machine andrecognize user inputs from devices, including key pads and button pads,to determine the wager amount and initiate game play.

After game play has been initiated, the gaming machine determines a gameoutcome, presents the game outcome to the player and may dispense anaward of some type depending on the outcome of the game. A game outcomepresentation may utilize many different visual and audio components suchas flashing lights, music, sounds and graphics. The visual and audiocomponents of the game outcome presentation may be used to draw aplayer's attention to various game features and to heighten the player'sinterest in additional game play. Maintaining a game player's interestin game play, such as on a gaming machine or during other gamingactivities, is an important consideration for an operator of a gamingestablishment.

One method for maintaining a player's interest is to present multiplegames at the same time during a game presentation. For instance, tripleplay poker in which a player plays three hands of poker during each gamepresentation has become very popular game implemented on a video gamingmachine. Variants of triple play poker include game presentations wherea hundred or more poker hands are played during each game presentation.The presentation of multiple games during a single game presentation maybe extended to other types of games, such as video slot games.

One difficulty associated with presenting multiple games in a video gamepresentation is the screen resolution of the display on a gamingmachine. A typical display resolution on a gaming machine is about 640pixels by 480 pixels. As the number of games presented in a gamepresentation increases, the amount of detail may be limited by thescreen resolution. For instance, for a hundred-hand poker game where ahundred poker hands are displayed during each game presentation, eachcard must be drawn fairly small without much detail to accommodate allof the cards on a single display screen. The lack of detail and smallcard size may discourage some game players from playing such games.

Another method for maintaining a player's interest in playing a game ona gaming machine is to present an exciting game presentation that isshown on a display screen on the gaming machine. Many newer game systemsuse graphical generation schemes employing mass storage devices thatutilize varied load times and stream-able media formats to generate anexciting game presentation. With these game systems, many game scenesare generated during the game play using complex renderings and videoplayback capabilities. Typically, however, for efficiency reasons, aplayer has little control over the game outcome presentation other thanthrough game decisions they make during the play of the game.

In view of the above, it would be desirable to provide method andapparatus that allow detailed game presentations accommodating thesimultaneous play of multiple games to be presented on a video gamingmachine where the game presentation may also be controlled by a gameplayer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention addresses the needs indicated above by providing methodand apparatus on a gaming machine for presenting a plurality of gameoutcome presentations derived from one or more virtual 3-D gamingenvironments stored on the gaming machine. While a game of chance isbeing played on the gaming machine, two-dimensional images derived froma 3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered to a displayscreen on the gaming machine in real-time as part of a game outcomepresentation. Apparatus and methods are described for generating anddisplaying a sequence of symbols from a virtual reel strip in the 3-Dgaming environment. In particular, the sequence of symbols may be mappedone or more to flat reels, rounded reels or sequences of moving objectsin the 3-D gaming environment. The flat reels, round reels or sequencesof moving objects may be moved in the 3-D gaming environment through amotion that allows the sequence of symbols from the virtual reel stripto displayed as part of game outcome presentation for a game of chanceplayed on the gaming machine.

One aspect of the present invention provides a method of generating agame of chance in a gaming machine including a master gaming controller,a display device and a memory device. The method may be generallycharacterized as comprising: 1) receiving a wager for the game of chancecontrolled by the master gaming controller on the gaming machine wherethe gaming machine is capable of receiving indicia of credit for thewager from an input device coupled to the gaming machine and outputtingindicia of credit from an output device coupled to the gaming machine;2) determining a game outcome for the game of chance by randomlyselecting, one or more times, an index from a sequence of indices, 3)rendering one or more two-dimensional (2-D) images derived from the onemore 3-D objects and the three-dimensional gaming environment as a gameoutcome presentation for the game of chance wherein information used togenerate the one or more 3-D objects and the 3-D gaming environment isstored in the memory device on the gaming machine; and 4) displaying theone or more rendered 2-D images to the display device on the gamingmachine where the 2-D images display the portion of the indices. Foreach index selected, a portion of the indices from the sequence ofindices may be drawn on one or more three-dimensional (3-D) objects in a3-D gaming environment where the portion of indices includes therandomly selected indices.

In a particular embodiment, a combination of three indices may begenerated as the game outcome by randomly selecting i) a first indexfrom a first sequence of indices, ii) a second index from a secondsequence of indices and iii) a third index from a third sequence ofindices. The first, second and third sequence of indices may be the samesequence of indices. In addition, a combination of 5 indices may begenerated as the game outcome by randomly selecting i) a first indexfrom a first sequence of indices, ii) a second index from a secondsequence of indices, iii) a third index from a third sequence ofindices, iv) a fourth index from a fourth sequence of indices and v) afifth index from a fifth sequence of indices. The first, second, third,fourth and fifth sequence of indices are the same sequence of indices.

In another embodiment, the game of chance may be a video slot game andthe sequence of indices may be a virtual reel strip. The sequence ofindices may comprise two or more different types of indices. Thedifferent types of indices may correspond to different types of symbols.Therefore, the method may further comprise mapping a set of symbols toeach type of index and drawing the symbols on one or more the 3-Dobjects in the 3-D gaming environment. In particular, the method mayfurther comprise for a first game of chance, mapping a first set ofsymbols to each type of index and drawing the symbols on the one or more3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environment and for a second game ofchance, mapping a second set of symbols to each type of index anddrawing the symbols on the one or more 3-D objects in the 3-D gamingenvironment.

In other embodiments, the method may further comprise determining amotion of the one or more 3-D objects in the gaming environment andapplying the determined motion to the one or more 3-D objects in the 3-Dgaming environment. In one example, the motion of a first 3-D object ofthe one or more 3-D objects is linear in the 3-D gaming environment. Inanother example, the motion of a first 3-D object of the one or more 3-Dobjects is non-linear in the 3-D gaming environment. For instance, themotion of a first 3-D object of the one or more 3-D objects may be alonga 3-D curve in the 3-D gaming environment.

In yet other embodiments, the method may further comprise applyingmotions to a plurality of 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environmentwhere 1) the motion for each object is linear, 2) the objects move inparallel paths and 3) indices are drawn on each of the plurality of 3-Dobjects. Further, a first 3-D object of the one or more 3-D objects maybe a 2-D rectangle or a box in the 3-D gaming environment where theportion of the indices is drawn on one surface of the rectangle or thebox. In addition, a first 3-D object of the one or more 3-D objects maybe one of a portion of a cylinder or a curved 2-D surface where theportion of the indices is drawn on one surface of the cylinder portionor the curved 2-D surface.

In another embodiment, each index in the portion of the indices may bedisplayed sequentially over time in a plurality of rendered 2-D imagesthat are displayed sequentially over time on the display screen. Inparticular, each of the plurality of rendered 2-D images may comprise asubset of a total number of indices in the portion of the indices. Forinstance, if the total number of indices in the portion of indices wasnine and the number of rendered 2-D images were three, then the firstthree indices might be rendered on the first 2-D image, the second threeindices might be rendered on the second 2-D image, and the last threeindices might be rendered on the third 2-D image.

In a particular embodiment, the method may further comprise, generatingthe portion indices from the sequence of indices where the portion ofindices comprises at least one of i) a number of indices in the sequenceof indices prior to the randomly selected index, ii) a number of indicesafter the randomly selected index in the sequence of indices and iii)combinations thereof. In general, sequences of indices may be displayedrepetitively such that when an end of the sequence of indices is reacheda next index that is displayed is a first index in the sequence ofindices. In one embodiment, a number of indices in the portion ofindices may be constant for each game of chance that is generated. Inanother embodiment, a number of indices in the portion of indices mayvary for each game of chance that is generated.

In further regards to the indices in the portion of indices, the portionof indices may comprise a first index from the sequence of indices; andthe randomly selected index from the sequence of indices where theportion of indices that are drawn include all of the indices between thefirst index and the randomly selected index in the sequence of indices.The first index from the sequences of indices may be determined from aprevious game of chance generated on the game of chance. In anotherembodiment, the portion of indices may comprise a first index from thesequence of indices and the randomly selected index from the sequence ofindices where the portion of indices that are drawn include a subset ofthe indices between the first index and the randomly selected index inthe sequence of indices. Again, the first index from the sequence ofindices may be determined from a previous game of chance generated onthe game of chance.

In other embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving an inputsignal from a first input device on the gaming machine where the inputsignal provides information for altering the game outcome presentationfor the game of chance. For example, the input signal may be for one ofstopping or starting the motion of the one or more 3-D objects or theinput signal may be for altering a motion of the one or more 3-Dobjects. The input signal may be generated from a touch screen.

In yet another embodiment, the method may further comprise applyingmotions to a plurality of 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environmentwhere the motion of each 3-D object begins at an object source in the3-D gaming environment. A position of the object source in the 3-Dgaming environment may change in time. Further, the motion of first 3-Dobject may originate at a first object source and the motion of a second3-D object originates at a second object source at a different positionfrom the first object source. In addition, the method may furthercomprise 1) applying motions to a plurality of 3-D objects in the 3-Dgaming environments wherein two or more objects are capable of collidingand 2) detecting a collision between two or more 3-D objects in the 3-Dgaming environment.

In other embodiments, the method may further comprise 1) determining theaward of indicia of credit using the one or more randomly selectedindices wherein the gaming machine is capable of the award of theindicia of credit via the output device, 2) rendering a bonus gamepresentation in the 3-D gaming environment and capturing the bonus gamepresentation on the one or more two-dimensional images and 3) receivingan input signal to initiate one or more games of chance.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a second method ofgenerating a game of chance in a gaming machine including a mastergaming controller, a display device and a memory device. The method maybe generally characterized as comprising: 1) receiving a wager for thegame of chance controlled by the master gaming controller on the gamingmachine where the gaming machine is capable of receiving indicia ofcredit for the wager from an input device coupled to the gaming machineand outputting indicia of credit from an output device coupled to thegaming machine; 2) determining randomly a final state on each of aplurality of virtual reel strips; 3) rendering a plurality oftwo-dimensional (2-D) images comprising the surfaces drawn with thesymbols from the virtual reel strips as a game outcome presentation forthe game of chance where information used to generate the surfaces andthe 3-D gaming environment is stored in the memory device on the gamingmachine; and 4) displaying the one or more rendered 2-D images to thedisplay device on the gaming machine where the 2-D images display thesequence of symbols from each of the virtual reel strips. In the methodfor each virtual reel strip,

a sequence of symbols to display from the virtual reel strip may bedetermined where each of the sequence of symbols comprises at least oneof i) a number of symbols prior to the final state on the virtual reelstrip; ii) a number of symbols after the final state on the virtual reelstrip; or iii) combinations thereof and the sequence of symbols may bedrawn over time on a surface defined in a 3-D gaming environment.

In particular embodiments, the method may further comprise determining amotion for each of the surfaces in the 3-D gaming environment; and,while rendering the plurality of 2-D images, applying the determinedmotion for each of the surfaces in the 3-D gaming environment where themotion for each of the surfaces is captured in at least a portion of theplurality of the 2-D images. In addition, when the 2-D images are viewedin a sequence, the rendered symbols may appear to move along a linearpath from a top of the display screen to the bottom of the displayscreen. The surface may be one of a planar rectangular surface or acurved portion of an outside of a cylinder. In addition, three virtualreel strips may be mapped to three different surfaces or five virtualreel strips may be mapped to five different surfaces. Further, a numberof symbols displayed in each game outcome presentation can be aconstant.

In another embodiment, the method may further comprise 1) generating atleast one of a flat surface or a curved surface divided into a totalnumber of segments of equal area at first position in the 3-D gamingenvironment; 2) drawing in each of the number of segments of the flatsurface or the curved surface a first subset of the sequence of symbols;3) moving the flat surface or the curved surface from the first positionby a distance equal to a height of one of the surface segments alongsurface while rendering the plurality of 2-D images, and next, a)regenerating the flat surface or the curved surface at the firstposition in the 3-D gaming environment; b) redrawing in each of thenumber of segments of the flat surface or the curved surface a secondsubset of the sequence of symbols; c) moving the flat surface or thecurved surface from the first position by the distance equal to theheight of one of the surface segments while rendering the plurality of2-D images; where the first subset and the second subset are defined sothat when the plurality of 2-D images capturing the movement of thegenerated surfaces are viewed on the display screen, the symbols appearto enter and to leave the display screen in an order specified by thesequence of symbols for each virtual reel strip.

In the method of the paragraph above, a sequence in the first subset anda sequence in the second subset may overlap. Further, the rate ofmovement or the direction of movement of the surfaces may vary overtime. In particular, the movement of the flat surface or the curvedsurface may be specified so that 1) a rate of movement of the symbolsappears to increase and then decrease during the game outcomepresentation when the plurality of 2-D images capturing the movement ofthe generated surfaces are viewed on the display screen, 2) the symbolson the display screen appear to oscillate above and below their finalpositions prior to stopping when the plurality of 2-D images capturingthe movement of the generated surfaces are viewed on the display screen,3) the symbols on the display screen, prior to moving in a firstdirection appear to move slightly from their initial position in adirection opposite of the first direction when the plurality of 2-Dimages capturing the movement of the generated surfaces are viewed onthe display screen and 4) combinations thereof.

In other embodiments, the method may further comprise dividing eachsurface into a number of segments and drawing at least one symbol fromthe sequence of symbols in each segment where a type of symbol drawn ineach segment varies with time. In addition, when the one or more 2-Dimages are displayed to the display screen, a portion of the number issegments may be viewable on the display screen at any one time andpositions of a portion of the number of segments may be used to specifya payline. Further, areas occupied by a portion of the number ofsegments on the display screen may correspond to active areas of a touchscreen sensor coupled to the display screen. Thus, the gaming machinemay be capable of altering a movement of a first surface in the 3-Dgaming environment when an input signal is generated from an active areaon the touch screen sensor above the first surface in one of the 2-Dimages.

In yet other embodiments, the method may comprise receiving an inputsignal from a first input device on the gaming machine indicating a stopcommand has been received where the stop command is a request to stop aprogression of symbols on one of the virtual reel strips viewed on thedisplay screen and determining a new sequence of symbols to display fromthe virtual reel strip wherein the new sequence of symbols allows thefinal state of the virtual reel strip to be displayed sooner than whenthe stop command is not received. In addition, the method may furthercomprise: 1) determining the award of indicia of credit using the one ormore randomly selected indices wherein the gaming machine is capable ofthe award of the indicia of credit via the output device, 2) rendering abonus game presentation in the 3-D gaming environment and capturing thebonus game presentation on the one or more two-dimensional images and 3)receiving an input signal from a first input device coupled to thegaming machine to initiate one or more games of chance.

In yet other embodiments, the sequence of symbols to display from thevirtual reel strip may be determined such that the sequence progressesthrough the virtual reel strip towards an end of the virtual reel strip.When the end of the virtual reel strip is reached in the sequence andmore symbols are required for the sequence, a next symbol in thesequence may be selected from symbols near a beginning of the virtualreel strip and the sequence again progresses through the virtual reelstrip towards the end of the virtual reel strip. Further, the method maycomprise displaying the final state for a plurality of virtual reelstrips in a first game of chance; storing the final state of each of thevirtual reel strips; for a second game of chance following the firstgame of chance, determining the sequence of the symbols to display fromthe virtual reels strips where the final states from the plurality ofvirtual reel strips from the first game of chance are initial states ofthe sequence of symbols for the second game of chance.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a virtual reel modelfor a 3-D gaming environment on a gaming machine where the gamingmachine is capable of receiving indicia of credit for a wager for a gameof chance from an input device coupled to the gaming machine andoutputting indicia of credit from an output device coupled to the gamingmachine. The virtual reel model may be generally characterized ascomprising: 1) a geometry definition of a reel model for the 3-D gamingenvironment; 2) a first input parameter for specifying a total number ofsegments on the reel model where a symbol is drawn on each segment ofthe reel model in the 3-D gaming environment; 3) a second inputparameter for specifying an index of a home segment on the reel modelwhere the index of the home segment is used to specify a startinglocation for a first payline that the gaming machine is capable ofdrawing in the 3-D gaming environment; and 4) a third input parameterfor specifying a number of visible segments wherein the visible segmentsare the number of segments above the home segment that are visible on adisplay screen on the gaming machine when 2-D images are rendered fromthe 3-D gaming environment comprising the reel model. The rendered 2-Dimages may be used as part of a game outcome presentation or a bonusgame outcome presentation for the game of chance viewed on the gamingmachine.

In particular embodiment, the geometry definition of the reel model maybe for one of a flat strip or a curved strip. In addition, the virtualreel model may further comprise: i) a fourth input parameter forspecifying a number of touchable segments wherein the number oftouchable segments specify active areas of a touch screen sensor coupledto the display screen that correspond to segment areas on 2-D imagesthat are displayed to the display screen of the virtual reel modelrendered from the virtual reel model generated in the 3-D gamingenvironment, ii) a fifth input parameter for specifying a number ofdifferent types of symbols that are drawn on each symbol or iii) aplurality of motion parameters for specifying a movement of the reelmodel over time in the 3-D gaming environment. The plurality of motionparameters may be used to define one or more of a) a cock-up movement ofthe reel model in the 3-D gaming environment, b) a cock-down movement ofthe reel model in the 3-D gaming environment, c) a bounce-down movementof the reel model in the 3-D gaming environment, d) a bounce-up movementof the reel model in the 3-D gaming environment, e) a stop position ofthe reel model in the 3-D gaming environment, and f) a velocity as afunction of time of the reel model in the 3-D gaming environment and g)a path of the reel model in the 3-D gaming environment as a function oftime.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a gaming machine.The gaming machine may be generally characterized as comprising: 1) ahousing; 2) a master gaming controller designed or configured to controla game of chance played on the gaming machine and to execute game logicmounted within the housing; 3) an input device coupled to the housingcapable of receiving indicia of credit for wagers on the game of chance;4) an output device coupled to the housing capable of outputting indiciaof credit from the gaming machine; 5) a memory device coupled to thehousing for storing information used to generate a 3-D gamingenvironment comprising one or more virtual slot reels; 6) game logicexecuted on the gaming machine for rendering one or more two-dimensionalimages derived from the 3-D gaming environment; and 7) one or moredisplay devices for displaying a game outcome presentation for the gameof chance comprising said rendered one or more two-dimensional images.The game of chance may be a video slot game.

In particular embodiments, the gaming machine may further comprise gamelogic for 1) rendering one or more 2-D images derived from the 3-Dgaming environment for a bonus game outcome presentation, 2) generatinga sequence of symbols from the virtual reel strips as a function of timein the 3-D gaming environment and for rendering 2-D images from the 3-Dgaming environment comprising the sequence of symbols and 3) generatinga motion of the one or more virtual slot reels in the 3-D gamingenvironment. When a sequence of 2-D images capturing one or more thevirtual slot reels at various positions in the 3-D gaming environment isviewed on the display screen, the virtual slot reels may appear to moveon the display screen. In particular, the symbols on each virtual slotreel may appear to move along a straight line from the top of thedisplay screen to the bottom of display screen.

In other embodiments, the gaming machine may comprise information forgenerating geometry of the one or more virtual slot reels in the 3-Dgaming environment where the geometry is one of a flat strip or a curvedstrip. Further, the gaming machine may further comprise one or morevirtual reel strips for mapping symbols to the one or more virtual reelsand determining a game outcome for the game of chance. For instance,three virtual slot reels and their motions or five virtual slot reelsand their motions may be modeled in the 3-D gaming environment.

In particular embodiments, the gaming machine may also comprise agraphical processing unit, separate from said master gaming controller,designed or configured to execute the graphical operations used torender one or more two-dimensional images derived from the 3-D gamingenvironment or an input mechanism designed or configured to receive aninput signal used to change one of a position or a movement of the oneor more virtual slot reels in the 3-D gaming environment. The inputmechanism is selected from the group consisting of a keypad, a touchscreen, a mouse, a joystick, a microphone and a track ball.

Another aspect of the invention pertains to computer program productsincluding a machine-readable medium on which are stored programinstructions for implementing any of the methods described above. Any ofthe methods of this invention may be represented as program instructionsand/or data structures, databases, etc. that can be provided on suchcomputer readable media.

These and other features of the present invention will be presented inmore detail in the following detailed description of the invention andthe associated figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a 3-D virtual gaming environmentimplemented on a gaming machine for one embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective drawing of virtual slot reels in a 3-D virtualgaming environment implemented on a gaming machine for one embodiment ofthis invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams showing a mapping of virtual reel strip to a3-D object for one embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 3D-3E are diagrams showing movement patterns of a 3-D object usedto display a virtual real strip.

FIGS. 3F-3G are diagrams showing a display of a sequence of symbols froma virtual reel strip using a 3-D object in a 3-D gaming environment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a parameterized 3-D model for a flat reelor round reel for one embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 5A-5B are a perspective drawing of a 3-D wheel model and 3-Dsphere used to display symbols on a virtual reel strip of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6A-6C are diagrams of 3-D virtual gaming environments used todisplay symbols on virtual reel strips.

FIG. 7 is a perspective drawing of a gaming machine for one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting a method for generating a game ofchance using a virtual gaming environment.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting a method for generating a gamepresentation using a virtual reel strip in a 3-D virtual gamingenvironment.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of gaming machines that utilize distributedgaming software and distributed processors to generate a game of chancefor one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective drawing of two gaming machines in a 3-D virtualgaming environment implemented on a gaming machine for one embodiment ofthis invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective drawing of a virtual casino in a 3-D virtualgaming environment implemented on a gaming machine for one embodiment ofthis invention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective drawings of a 3-D interface for a gamingmachine.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart depicting a method of playing a game on a gamingmachine using a 3-D interface.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart depicting a method of displaying gameinformation on a gaming machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a 3-D virtual gaming environment 100implemented on a gaming machine for one embodiment of this invention.The 3-D virtual gaming environment may be used by the master gamingcontroller on the gaming machine to present a game of chance. The gameof chance played on the gaming machine may include: 1) a wager selectedby a player playing a game on the gaming machine, 2) an initiation ofthe game of chance on the gaming machine by the player, 3) adetermination of an outcome for the game of chance by the gaming machineand 4) a presentation on the gaming machine of the game outcome to theplayer. In the present invention, the 3-D gaming environment may be usedto present a game outcome to the player, describe operating functions ofthe gaming machine and provide an interface for obtaining gaminginformation and services. In particular, methods and apparatus ofdisplaying a sequence of symbols, such as a sequence of symbols on avirtual reel strip, in a 3-D gaming environment are described. Thesequence of symbols may be applied to different 3-D objects in the 3-Dgaming environment, such as but not limited to flat reel segments orrounded reel segments, for generating a game outcome presentation for agame of chance or a bonus game. Apparatus and methods implementing thesefeatures are described with respect to FIGS. 1-10.

In particular FIGS. 1-10 provide the following information. In FIG. 1, a3-D gaming environment of the present invention is described. In FIG. 2,3-D reels in the 3-D gaming environment are described. In FIG. 3A-3F, 4,flat and rounded reel segments used to display symbols in 3-D gamingenvironments of the present invention are discussed. In FIGS. 5A-5B,embodiments of 3-D wheels and 3-D spheres for displaying symbols thatmay be used in a generating a game outcome presentation for a game ofchance or bonus game of chance are described. In FIGS. 6A-6B, otherembodiments of 3-D gaming environments that may be used to display asequence of symbols that may be used in a generating a game outcomepresentation for a game of chance or bonus game of chance are described.In FIG. 7, one embodiment of a gaming machine of the present inventionis described. In FIGS. 8 and 9, methods of generating a game of chanceor bonus game using the 3-D gaming environments of the present inventionare presented. In FIG. 10, a gaming network of the present invention isdescribed.

Prior to describing FIG. 1, some general aspects of 3-D virtual gamingenvironments and their relationship to 2-D environments are discussed.To utilize a virtual 3-D gaming environment for a game presentation orother gaming activities on a gaming machine, a 2-D view of the virtual3-D gaming environment is rendered. The 2-D view captures some portionof the 3-D surfaces modeled in the virtual 3-D gaming environment. Thecaptured surfaces define a 3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment. Thecaptured surfaces in 2-D view are defined in the 3-dimensionalcoordinates of the virtual 3-D gaming environment and converted to a2-dimensional coordinate system during the capturing process. As part ofa game presentation, the 2-D view may be presented as a video frame on adisplay screen on the gaming machine. In some ways, the two-dimensionalview is analogous to a photograph of a physical 3-D environment taken bya camera where the photograph captures a portion of the physical 3-Dsurfaces existing in the physical 3-D environment. However, thephotograph from a camera is not strictly analogous to a 2-D viewrendered from a virtual 3-D gaming environment because many graphicalmanipulation techniques may be applied in a virtual 3-D gamingenvironment that are not available with an actual camera.

In the present invention, the 2-D view is generated from a viewpointwithin the virtual 3-D gaming environment. The viewpoint is a mainfactor in determining what surfaces of the 3-D gaming environmentdefining a 3-D object are captured in the 2-D view. Since informationabout the 3-D gaming environment is stored on the gaming machine, theviewpoint may be altered to generate new 2-D views of objects within the3-D gaming environment. For instance, in one frame, a 2-D view of anobject modeled in the 3-D gaming environment, such as a front side of abuilding (e.g. the viewpoint captures the front side of a building), maybe generated using a first viewpoint. In another frame, a 2-D view ofthe same object may be generated from another viewpoint (e.g. thebackside of the building).

A disadvantage of current gaming machines is that the 2-D views used asvideo frames in game presentations are only rendered from 2-D objectsand information about the multi-dimensional nature of the objectsrendered in the 2-D views, such as the viewpoint used to generate the2-D view, are not stored on the gaming machine. Historically, due to theregulatory environment of the gaming industry, gaming software used topresent a game of chance has been designed to “run in place” on an EPROMinstalled on the gaming machine. Using an EPROM, it was not feasible tostore large amounts of game data relating to a complicated 3-D model.Thus, only 2-D object information used to render the 2-D view was storedon the gaming machine.

However, 2-D games rendered on gaming machines have also become moresophisticated and often employ complex animations. When complicatedanimations are used in a 2-D system, such as playing movies on a 2-Dobject, a 3-D system can actually save memory because more types ofanimation can be used with a 3-D system versus a 2-D system withoutresorting to using movies, which are memory intensive. In a 2-D systemwithout using movies, the animation properties that may be used aresimple two-dimensional movement and color cycling using color palettes,which provide a limited visual appeal.

When only 2-D information about a 3-D object is available, it is notpossible to generate new 2-D views from different viewpoints of the 3-Dobject. For instance, when a picture of a slot reel is rendered oncurrent gaming machines, 3-D information, such as the radius of the reelis not stored. Thus, it is not possible to generate a 2-D view of theslot reel from a side viewpoint, because the radius of the reel is notknown. As another example, frames from a movie may be used as part of agame presentation on a gaming machine. Each frame of the movierepresents a 2-D view from a viewpoint of a camera used to film eachframe. If the frame included a picture of a building viewed from thefront (e.g., the viewpoint captures the front of the building), it isnot possible to generate a new 2-D view of the back of the buildingusing because information regarding the back of the building is notknown.

One advantage of the present invention is the potential game playingarea used to present a game of chance modeled in a 3-D gamingenvironment is greater than the potential game playing area of a 2-Dgaming environment. For instance, a game of chance may be presented oneach of the six sides of a cube modeled in a virtual gaming environment.To play the game chance, 2-D views of the cube from different viewpointsin the 3-D gaming environment may be rendered in real-time and presentedto the player. As described below, in some embodiments, the player mayeven select the viewpoint in the 3-D gaming environment used to generatethe 2-D view.

On current gaming machines, the cube would be rendered as a 2-D objectgenerated from the 3-D cube as seen from a particular viewpoint. Theparticular viewpoint is selected when the game is developed and only 2-Dinformation about the cube as viewed from the selected viewpoint wouldbe stored on an EPROM on the gaming machine. Thus, a game of chancecould be presented on the sides of the cube rendered from the 2-D objectthat was generated from the selected viewpoint of the 3-D cube andstored on the EPROM. However, unless additional 2-D objects weregenerated from different viewpoints, it is not possible to present agame of chance on the sides of the cube not visible from the selectedviewpoint because the 2-D object does not store information regardingthe sides of the cube not visible from the selected viewpoint. Further,even if multiple 2-D objects were generated, it is difficult and timeconsuming to generate enough 2-D objects to allow smooth transitionsbetween viewpoints captured by the 2-D objects. It is also difficult toa scale a 2-D object, either smaller or larger, without introducingdistortion effects.

Distortion is also generated when scaling 3-D objects. However, it iseasier to deal with using specialized 3-D graphics cards because thecard applies a bilinear filtering process to the texels at render time.Without special hardware, such as a 3-D graphics card, it would bedifficult to correct for distortion in real-time.

Finally, in a typical 2-D gaming system, due to the limited flexibilityof 2D, outcomes for a game of chance rendered in 2D and displayed on agaming machine have to be quantified and pre-rendered i.e. cannedanimations. Due to the flexibility of a 3-D gaming system the outcomescan be determined through user input giving an unlimited number ofanimations in response to the players input. By not having to make aseries of pre-canned animations but instead determining the animation inresponse to the players input saves many bytes in storage spacerequirements. In following figures, details of methods and apparatusused to present a game of chance generated from a 3-D gaming environmentare described.

Returning to FIG. 1, the 3-D gaming environment 100 includes threeobjects: 1) a rectangular box 101 on top of, 2) a plane 114 and 3) asecond box 127. The box 101, box 127 and plane 114 are defined in a3-dimensional rectangular coordinate space 104. Typically, surfaces ofthe objects in the gaming environment are defined using a plurality ofsurface elements. The surface elements may comprise different shapes,such as different types of polygons that are well known in the 3-Dgraphical arts. For example, the objects in the present information maybe defined in a manner to be compatible with one or more graphicsstandards such as Open Graphics Library (OpenGL). Information on OpenGLmay be found at www.opengl.org.

In one embodiment, the objects in the gaming environment 100 may bedefined by a plurality of triangular elements. As an example, aplurality of triangular surface elements 125 are used to define aportion of the surface 108 and the surface face 112. In anotherembodiment, the objects in the gaming environment 100, such as box 101and box 127, may be defined by a plurality of rectangular elements. Inyet another embodiment, a combination of different types of polygons,such as triangles and rectangles may be used to describe the differentobjects in the gaming environment 100. By using an appropriate number ofsurface elements, such as triangular elements, objects may be made tolook round, spherical, tubular or embody any number of combinations ofcurved surfaces.

Triangles are by far the most popular polygon used to define 3-D objectsbecause they are the easiest to deal with. In order to represent a solidobject, a polygon of at least three sides is required (e.g. triangle).However, OpenGL supports quads, points, lines, triangle strips and quadstrips and polygons with any number of points. In addition, 3-D modelscan be represented by a variety of 3-D curves such as NURBs and BezierPatches.

Each of the surface elements comprising the 3-D virtual gamingenvironment may be described in a rectangular coordinate system oranother appropriate coordinate system, such as spherical coordinates orpolar coordinates, as dictated by the application. The 3-D virtualgaming environments of the present invention are not limited to theshapes and elements shown in FIG. 1 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) or thecoordinate system used in FIG. 1 which are shown for illustrativepurposes only. Details of 3-D graphical rendering methods that may beused with the present invention are described in “OpenGL ReferenceManual: The Official Reference Document to Open GL, Version 1.2,” 3rdedition, by Dave Shreiner (editor), OpenGL Architecture Review Board,Addison-Wesley Publishing, Co., 1999, ISBN: 0201657651 and “OpenGLProgram Guide: The Official Guide to Learning OpenGL, Version 1.2,” 3rdedition, by Mason Woo, Jackie Neider, Tom Davis, Dave Shreiner, OpenGLArchitecture Review Board, Addison-Wesley Publishing, Co., 1999, ISBN:0201604582, which are incorporated herein in their entirety and for allpurposes.

Surface textures may be applied to each of the surface elements, such aselements 125, defining the surfaces in the virtual gaming environment100. The surface textures may allow the 3-D gaming environment to appearmore “real” when it is viewed on a display screen on the gaming machine.As an example, colors, textures and reflectances may be applied to eachof the surface elements defining the various objects in the 3-D gamingenvironment Millions of different colors may be used to add a realistic“feel” to a given gaming environment. Textures that may be appliedinclude smoothness or surface irregularities such as bumps, craters,lines, bump maps, light maps, reflectance maps and refractance maps orother patterns that may be rendered on each element. The textures may beapplied as mathematical models stored as “texture maps” on the gamingmachine.

In one embodiment, the “texture map” may be an animated texture. Forinstance, frames of a movie or another animation may be projected onto a3-D object in the 3-D gaming environment. These animated textures may becaptured in 2-D views presented in video frames on the gaming machine.Multiple animated textures may be used at the same time. Thus, forexample, a first movie may be projected onto a first surface in the 3-Dgaming environment and a second movie may be projected onto a secondsurface in the 3-D gaming environment where both movies may be viewedsimultaneously.

Material properties of a 3-D surface may describe how the surface reactsto light. These surface properties may include such things as a) amaterial's ability to absorb different wavelengths of light, b) amaterial's ability to reflect different wavelengths of light(reflectance), c) a material's ability to emit certain wavelengths oflight such as the taillights on a car and d) a material's ability totransmit certain wavelengths of light. As an example, reflectance refersto how much light each element reflects. Depending on the reflectance ofa surface element other items in the gaming environment may be reflectedfuzzily, sharply or not at all. Combinations of color, texture andreflectance may be used to impart an illusion of a particular quality toan object, such as hard, soft, warm or cold.

Some shading methods that are commonly used with 3-D graphics to addtexture that may be applied to the present invention include gourandshading and phong shading. Gourand and phong shading are methods used tohide an object's limited geometry by interpolating between two surfaceswith different normals. Further, using Alpha Blending, pixels may beblended together to make an object appear transparent i.e. the objecttransmits light.

Virtual light sources, such as 102, may be used in the gamingenvironment to add the appearance of shading and shadows. Shading andshadows are used to add weight and solidity to the rendering of avirtual object. For example, to add solidity to the rectangular box 101,light rays emitted from light source 102 are used to generate a shadow103 around the rectangular box 101. In one method, ray tracing is usedto plot paths of imaginary light rays emitted from an imaginary lightsource such as 102. These light rays may impact and may reflect offvarious surfaces affecting the colors assigned to each surface element.In some gaming environments, multiple light sources may be used wherethe number of lights and the intensity of each light source change withtime. Typically, in real time 3D, the light sources do not generateshadows and it is up to the programmer to add shadows manually. Asstated earlier, however, the light sources produce shading on objects.

Perspective, which is used to convey the illusion of distance, may beapplied to the gaming environment 100 by defining a vanishing point,such as 128. Typically, a single point perspective is used where all ofthe objects in the scene are rendered to appear as though they willeventually converge at a single point in the distance, e.g. thevanishing point. However, multiple point perspectives may also beemployed in 3-D gaming environments of the present invention.Perspective allows objects in the gaming environment appear behind oneanother. For instance, box 101 and box 127 may be the same size.However, box 127 is made to appear smaller, and hence farther away, to aviewer because it is closer to the vanishing point 128. A 3-D gamingenvironment may or may not provide perspective correction. Transformingpoints towards the center of the 2-D view screen accomplish perspectivecorrection. The farther away an object is from the viewpoint in 3-Dgaming environment, the more it will be transformed into the center ofscreen.

The present invention is not limited to perspective views or multipleperspective views of the 3-D gaming environment. An orthographic viewmay be used where 3-D objects rendered in a 2-D view always appear thesame size no matter how far away they are in the 3-D gaming environment.The orthographic view is what you would see as a shadow cast from alight source that is infinitely far away (so that the light rays areparallel), while the perspective view comes from a light source that arefinitely far away, so that the light rays are diverging. In the presentinvention, combinations of both perspective and orthographic views maybe used. For instance, an orthographic view of a text message may belayered on top of a perspective view of the 3-D gaming environment.

Related to perspective is “depth of field”. The depth of field describesan effect where objects that appear closer to a viewer are more in focusand objects that are farther away appear out of focus. Depth of fieldmay be applied renderings of the various objects in the gamingenvironment 100. Another effect that may be applied to renderings ofobjects in the gaming environment is “anti-aliasing”. Anti-aliasing isused to make lines, which are digitally generated, as a number ofstraight segments appear smoother when rendered on a display screen onthe gaming machine. Because the 2D display only takes finite pixelpositions, stair stepping occurs on any limes that are not straight upand down, straight across (left and right) or at 45 degrees on thedisplay screen. Stair stepping produces a visually unappealing effect,thus, pixels are added to stair-stepped lines to make this effect lessdramatic.

Objects in the gaming environment 101 may appear to be static ordynamic. For instance, the coordinates of box 127 may change with timewhile the coordinates of box 101 and plane 114 remain fixed. Thus, whenrendered on a display screen on a gaming machine, the box 127 may appearto move in the gaming environment 101 relative to the box 101. Manydynamic effects are possible. For instance, box 127 may appear to rotatewhile remaining in a fixed position or may rotate while also translatingto generate an effect of bouncing or tumbling. Further, in the gamingenvironment, objects may appear to collide with one another. Forinstance, box 127 may appear to collide with box 101 altering thetrajectory of box 127 in the gaming environment. Many digital renderingeffects may be applied to the gaming environment of the presentinvention. The effects described above have been provided forillustrative purposes only.

Standard alphanumeric text and symbols may be applied to one or moresurface elements in the gaming environment 101 to display gaminginformation to a game player. The alphanumeric text and symbols may beapplied to various surfaces in the gaming environment to generate aplurality of game displays that may be used as part of game outcomepresentations viewed on the gaming machine. For instance, game displaysmay be rendered on each of the 6 six surface faces of box 101 or box 127and a plurality of game displays may also be rendered on planar surface114. In the present invention, game displays may be rendered across oneor more surfaces of any polyhedron or other object defined in the gamingenvironment.

The rendered text and symbols allow game outcome presentations to begenerated for different games of chance. For instance, a card hand for apoker game or black jack game may be rendered on each of the faces ofbox 101 such as surfaces 108, 110 and 112. As another example, kenonumbers or bingo numbers may be rendered on different faces of boxes 101and 127. Further, slot displays and pachinko displays for slot andpachinko game outcome presentations may be rendered on different facesof boxes 101 and 127.

Many different combinations of games of chance may be rendered in thegaming environment 100. For instance, a slot display may be rendered onface 108 of box 101, a black jack game display may be rendered on face110, poker game display may be rendered on face 112, a keno game displaymay be rendered on a face on the box 101 opposite face 108, a pachinkogame display may be rendered on a face on the box 101 opposite 110 and abingo game display may be rendered on a face on the box 101 oppositeface 112. A different combination of game displays may be rendered onthe surfaces of box 127. Other games of chance that may be used in thepresent invention include but are not limited to dice games (e.g.craps), baccarat and roulette.

In the present invention, games of chance are used to denote gamingactivities where a game player has made a wager on the outcome of thegame of chance Depending on the game outcome for the game of chanceinitiated by the player, the wager may be multiplied. The game outcomemay proceed solely according to chance, i.e. without any input by thegame player or the game player may affect the game outcome according toone or more decisions. For instance, in a video poker game, the gameoutcome may be determined according to cards held or discarded by thegame player. While in a slot game, the game outcome, i.e. the finalposition of the slot reels, is randomly determined by the gamingmachine.

The combinations of games described above may be rendered at the sametime in the 3-D gaming environment. A player may play one or more gamesin a sequential manner. For instance, a player may select one or moregames, make a wager for the one or more games and then initiate the oneor more games and view game outcome presentations for the one or moregames. A player may also play one or more games in a parallel manner.For instance, a player may select one or more games, make a wager forthe one or more games, and initiate the one or more games. Before thegame outcome presentations have been completed for the one or moreselected games, the player may select one or more new games, make awager for the one or more new games and initiate the one or more newgames. Details of a parallel game methodology are described inco-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/553,437, filed on Apr. 19, 2000,by Brosnan et al. and entitled “Parallel Games on a Gaming Device,”which is incorporated in its entirety and for all purposes.

The rendered text and symbols in a game display are not necessarilyplanar may be rendered in multiple in dimensions in the gamingenvironment 100. For example, rendered cards may have a finite thicknessor raised symbols. The cards may be dealt by hands that are defined as 3dimensional object models in the 3-D gaming environment 100 and move asthe cards are dealt. As another example, a slot display may be renderedas multidimensional reels with symbols (see FIG. 2) that may rotate inthe gaming environment 100.

A game display for a game outcome presentation may be rendered on aparticular surface and may change with time in response to variousplayer inputs. For example, in a poker game, a player may discard andhold various cards while they are playing the game. Thus, the cards inthe hand change as the game outcome is rendered in the 3-D gamingenvironment and some cards (e.g. discarded cards) may appear to leavethe gaming environment. As another example, reels on a slot displayrendered in the gaming environment may begin to spin in the gamingenvironment in response to a player pulling a lever or depressing aninput button on the physical gaming machine.

Other game features and gaming information may also be rendered in thegaming environment 100. For example, bonus games, promotions,advertising and attraction graphics may also be rendered in the gamingenvironment. For instance, a casino's logo or a player's face may berendered in the gaming environment. These additional game features maybe integrated into a game outcome presentation on the gaming machine orother operational modes of the gaming machine such as an attract mode.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a virtual person, e.g. a3-D dimensional model of a portion (e.g., face, hands, face, head andtorso, etc.) or all of a human being may be rendered in the 3-D gamingenvironment. The virtual person may be animated. For the instance, byadjusting parameters of the 3-D dimensional model of the virtual personin a sequence, the virtual person may appear to speak or gesture. Thevirtual person may be used to explain gaming instructions to a gameplayer or may be used as a component in a game presentation. The virtualperson may appear to respond or interact with a user according to inputsinto the gaming machine made by the user. For instance, a player may askthe virtual person a particular question via an input mechanism on thegaming machine such as microphone on a gaming machine equipped withvoice recognition software. Next, the virtual person may appear to speaka response to the question input by the user Animated 3-D models forother objects, such as animals or fictional characters, may also be usedin the 3-D gaming environment.

After the gaming environment is defined in 3-dimensions, to display aportion of the 3-D gaming environment on a display screen on the gamingmachine, a “photograph” of a portion of the gaming environment isgenerated. The photograph is a 2-dimensional rendering of a portion ofthe 3-dimensional gaming environment. Transformations between 3-Dcoordinate systems and 2-D coordinate systems are well known in thegraphical arts. The photograph may be taken from a virtual “camera”positioned at a location inside the gaming environment 100. A sequenceof photographs taken by the virtual camera in the gaming environment maybe considered analogous to filming a movie.

A “photograph” displayed on the display screen of a gaming machine mayalso be a composite of many different photographs. For instance, acomposite photograph may be generated from portions of a firstphotograph generated using an orthographic view and portions of a secondphotograph generated using a perspective view. The portions of thephotographs comprising the composite photograph may be placed on top ofone another to provide “layered” effects, may be displayed in aside-by-side manner to produce a “collage” or combinations thereof.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a photograph may be ablended combination of two different photographs. Using an interpolationscheme of some type, two photographs may be blended in a sequence ofphotographs to provide a morphing effect where the first photographappears to morph into a second photograph. For instance, a slot game mayappear to morph into a poker game.

Operating parameters of the virtual camera, such as its position at aparticular time, are used to define a 3-D surface in the gamingenvironment, which is projected on to a 2-D surface to produce thephotograph. The 3-D surface may comprise portions a number of 3-Dobjects in the 3-D gaming environment. The 3-D surface may also beconsidered a 3-D object. Thus, a photograph is a 2-D image derived from3-D coordinates of objects in the 3-D gaming environment. The virtualcamera may represent gaming logic stored on the gaming machine necessaryto render a portion of the 3-D gaming environment 100 to a 2-D imagedisplayed on the gaming machine. The photograph is converted into avideo frame, comprising a number of pixels, which may be viewed on adisplay screen on the gaming machine.

The transformation performed by the virtual camera allowing a portion ofthe virtual gaming environment to be viewed one or more display screenson the gaming machine may be a function of a number of variables. Thesize of lens in the virtual gaming environment, the position of thelens, a virtual distance between the lens and the photograph, the sizeof the photograph, the perspective and a depth variable assigned to eachobject are some of the variables that may be incorporated into atransformation by the virtual camera that renders a photograph of thevirtual gaming environment. The resolution of the display screen on thegaming machine may govern the size of a photograph in the virtualcamera. A typical display screen may allow a resolution of 800 by 600color pixels although higher or lower resolution screens may be used. A“lens size” on the virtual camera defines a window into the virtualgaming environment. The window is sometimes referred to as a viewport.The size and position of the lens determines what portion of the virtualgaming environment 100 the virtual camera views.

After the photograph of the virtual gaming environment has beengenerated, other effects, such as static and dynamic anti-aliasing, maybe applied to the photograph to generate a frame displayed on one ormore displays located on the gaming machine. Typically, the mathematicaland logical operations, which are encoded in gaming software logic,necessary to perform a particular transformation and generate a videoframe may be executed by video cards and graphics cards located on thegaming machine and specifically designed to perform these operations.The graphics cards usually include graphical processing units (GPUs).However, the transformation operations may also be performed by one ormore general purpose CPUs located on the gaming machine or combinationsof GPUs and CPUs.

In general, the 2D/3D video graphics accelerators or coprocessors oftenreferred to as graphics processing units (GPUs), are located on orconnected to the master gaming controller and are used to performgraphical operations. The solutions described are most commonly found asvideo cards. The graphical electronics may be incorporated directly ontothe processor board (e.g. the master gaming controller) of the gamingmachine, and even tightly integrated within other very large-scaleintegrated chip solutions. The integration methods are often cost savingmeasures commonly used to reduce the costs associated with massproduction. For instance, video cards, such as the Vivid!XS fromVideoLogic Systems (VideoLogic Systems is a division of ImaginationTechnologies Group plc, England) may used to perform the graphicaloperations described in the present invention. As another example, videocards from Nvidia Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.) may be employed. Inone embodiment, the video card may be a multi-headed 3-D video card,such as a Matrox G450 (Matrox Graphics Inc., Dorval, Quebec, Canada).Multi-headed video cards let a single graphics card power two displayssimultaneously or render two images simultaneously on the same display.

When displaying photographs from a virtual camera in a 3-D gamingenvironment, a single image from the camera may be divided among aplurality of display devices. For instance, four display screens may beused to display one quarter of a single image. The video feeds for eachof the plurality of display devices may be provided from a single videocard. Multi-headed video cards let a single graphics card (or graphicssubsystem) display output on two or more displays simultaneously. Thismay be multiple output rendering for each display or one rendering overmultiple displays, or variation of both. For example, when amulti-headed video card is used, a first head on the multi-headed videocard may be used to render an image from a first virtual camera in a 3-Dgaming environment and a second head on the multi-head video card may beused to render a second image from a second virtual camera in a 3-Dgaming environment. The rendered first and second images from the firsthead and the second head may be displayed simultaneously on the samedisplay or the first image may be displayed on a first display and thesecond image may be displayed on a second display.

Returning to FIG. 1, three lenses, 105, 106 and 107 used in a virtualcamera are shown positioned at three locations in the virtual gamingenvironment. Each lens views a different portion of the gamingenvironment. The size and shape of the lens may vary which changes aportion of the virtual gaming environment captured by the lens. Forinstance, lenses 105 and 106 are rectangular shaped while lens 107 isovular shaped.

Lens 106 is positioned to view the “game display” for a game outcomepresentation rendered on surface 108. The portion of the gamingenvironment captured by lens 106 is a six-sided shape 120. As describedabove, the game display may contain the presentation of a particulargame played on the gaming machine, such as a hand of cards for a pokergame. After applying an appropriate transformation, a photograph 124 ofthe portion of the virtual gaming environment 100 in volume 120 isgenerated by the virtual camera with lens 106.

Using differing terminology that is common within the 3D graphicscommunity, the lenses 105, 106 and 107 may be described as a camera.Each camera has the ability to have different settings. A scene in the3-D gaming environment is shot from the camera's viewpoint. A differentscene is captured from each camera. Thus, the scene is rendered from thecamera to produce and image.

The photograph 124 generated from the virtual camera with lens 106 maybe viewed on one or more display screens on the gaming machine. Forinstance, photograph 124 may be viewed on a main display on the gamingmachine and a secondary display on the gaming machine. In anotherembodiment, a portion of photograph 124 may be displayed on the maindisplay and a portion of the photograph may be displayed simultaneouslyon a secondary display. In yet another embodiment, a portion ofphotograph 124 may be displayed on a first gaming machine while aportion of photograph 124 may be displayed simultaneously on a secondgaming machine.

Lens 105 of a virtual camera is positioned to view volume 121 in thevirtual gaming environment 100. The volume 121 intersects three faces,108, 110 and 112, of box 101. After applying an appropriatetransformation, a photograph 125 of the portion of the virtual gamingenvironment 101 in volume 121 is rendered by the virtual camera withlens 105 which may be displayed on one of the display screens on agaming machine.

Lens 107 of a virtual camera is positioned to view volume 122 in thevirtual gaming environment 100. The ovular shape of the lens produces arounded volume 122 similar to a light from a flashlight. The volume 122intersects a portion of face 110 and a portion of plane 114 including aportion of the shadow 103. After applying an appropriate transformation,a photograph 126 of the portion of the virtual gaming environment 101 involume 122 is rendered by the virtual camera with lens 107 which may bedisplayed on one or more of the display screens on a gaming machine. Forinstance, a gaming machine may include a main display, a secondarydisplay, a display for a player tracking unit and a remote displayscreen in communication with the gaming machine via a network of sometype. Any of these display screens may display photographs rendered fromthe 3-D gaming environment.

A sequence of photographs generated from one or more virtual cameras inthe gaming environment 101 may be used to present a game outcomepresentation on the gaming machine or present other gaming machinefeatures. The sequence of photographs may appear akin to movie or filmwhen viewed by the player. For instance, a 3-D model of a virtual personmay appear to speak. Typically, a refresh rate for a display screen on agaming machine is on the order of 60 HZ or higher and new photographsfrom virtual cameras in the gaming environment may be generated as thegame is played to match the refresh rate.

The sequence of photographs from the one or more virtual cameras in thegaming environment may be generated from at least one virtual camerawith a position and lens angle that varies with time. For instance, lens106 may represent the position of a virtual camera at time, t1, lens 105may represent the position of the virtual camera at time, t2, and lens107 may represent the position of the virtual camera at time t3.Photographs generated at these three positions by the virtual camera maybe incorporated into a sequence of photographs displayed on a displayscreen.

The position of the virtual camera may change continuously between thepositions at times t1, t2, t3 generating a sequence of photographs thatappears to pan through the virtual gaming environment. Between thepositions at times t1, t2, t3, the rate the virtual camera is moved maybe increased or decreased. Further, the virtual camera may movenon-continuously. For instance, a first photograph in a sequence ofphotographs displayed on a display screen may be generated from thevirtual camera using the position of lens 106. The next photograph inthe sequence of photographs may be generated from the virtual camerausing the position of lens 105. A third photograph in the sequence ofphotographs may be generated from the virtual camera using the positionof lens 107. In general, the virtual camera in the gaming environment101 may move continuously, non-continuously and combinations thereof.

In a game presentation, a plurality of virtual cameras, with timevarying positions, in a plurality of virtual gaming environments may beused. The camera and environment information as a function of time maybe stored on the gaming machine and may be accessed when a particularscene for a game event in a game outcome presentation is needed suchthat the scene may be rendered in “real-time”. A scene may be defined bythe positions of one or more virtual cameras in one or more gamingenvironments as a function of time. The scenes may be modularized, i.e.a library of scenes may be generated, so that they may be incorporatedinto different games. For instance, a scene of a button being depressedmay be incorporated into any game using this type of sequence.

A sequence of photographs generated from a first virtual camera in afirst virtual gaming environment may be displayed simultaneously with asequence of photographs generated from a second virtual camera in asecond virtual gaming environment. For instance, the first sequence ofphotographs and second sequence and second sequence of photographs maybe displayed on a split screen or may be displayed on different screens.In addition, the first virtual camera in a first virtual gamingenvironment and the second virtual camera may be located in a secondvirtual gaming environment different from the first virtual gamingenvironment. Also, the first virtual gaming environment and the secondvirtual gaming environment may be in the same gaming environment.Further, a single virtual camera may jump between different gamingenvironments, such as between a game play environment to a bonus gameenvironment. The transition between the gaming environments may alsoappear to be smooth (e.g. the camera may pan from one environment in acontinuous manner).

In some embodiments, a player may be to select one or more virtualgaming environments used in a game play on a gaming machine. Forinstance, a first gaming environment may involve a cityscape, such asNew York, while a second gaming environment may involve a cityscape,such as Paris. During a game play on a gaming machine, a player may beable to select New York or Paris as a cityscape for the virtual gamingenvironment used during game play. The different game environments anddifferent scenes generated from the environments may be stored in amemory on the gaming machine as a library of some type.

In particular embodiments, while using the gaming machine, a player maybe able to control the position of the virtual camera using an inputmechanism on the gaming machine (see FIG. 7). For instance, a player maybe able to move the position of lens 106 closer to the surface 108 inthe gaming environment 108 which generates the appearance of zooming orthe object may be moved closer to the camera. For multiple hand cardgames, a player may be able to zoom-in on a particular hand to “expandon demand” the hand increasing the visibility of the hand. For instance,a player may use an input mechanism to “scroll” the camera and viewlarger portions. As another example, the player may be able maneuver avirtual camera through the gaming environment or select a scene in thegaming environment. An opportunity to move the virtual camera may betriggered by certain game events such as a bonus game event on thegaming machine or the movement of the camera may be scripted (e.g.pre-determined) as part of the game playing sequence. For example, aspart of the play of a bonus game event, a player may be able to choosefrom a number of doors leading to different rooms with treasure chests.When the player enters of one of the rooms, the chest is opened theirbonus award is revealed.

With the present invention, some advantages of generating a 3-D gamingenvironment that may be rendered in real-time to a display screen are asfollows. First, it allows a player to be presented and possibly controla complex game outcome presentation in real-time. Thus, the game outcomepresentation may be varied from game to game in a manner determined bythe player. Traditional game outcome presentations have been modeled in2-D and little control has been given to the player. Thus, traditionalgame outcome presentations do not vary much from game to game. Second,screen resolution issues associated with presenting a large number ofgames simultaneously on a single screen may be avoided by modeling thegames in 3-D gaming environment.

At any given time during a game presentation viewed on a display screenon the gaming machine, only a portion of the plurality of the gamesmodeled in the 3-D gaming environment may be visible to the player.Thus, a game playing are in a 3-D gaming environment is greater than a2-D gaming environment because a game of chance may be presented onsurfaces modeled in the 3-D gaming environment that may be hidden fromview. In a 2-D gaming environment, there are not any hidden surfacesi.e. “what you see” is “what you get.” Since the viewpoint in the 3-Dmodel may be varied, the player or gaming machine may zoom-in on one ormore games of interest, some of which may be hidden in a current 2-Dview, and select a desirable resolution level. Thus, all of the games orgame components do not have to be rendered on a single screensimultaneously.

FIG. 2 is a is a perspective drawing of three virtual slot reels, 202,204 and 206 in a 3-D virtual gaming environment 200 implemented on agaming machine for one embodiment of this invention. The three slotreels are modeled as cylinder portions in coordinate space 201. Thereels appear to be hanging in space. Different symbols are rendered oneach reel including a triangle 210, a triple bar 212, a “seven” 214,double bar 216 and an oval 218. Other symbols (not shown) may berendered on the backs of the reels. In a virtual 3-D slot gamingenvironment, such as 200, a size of the reels, a number of reels, anumber of symbols on the reels and types of symbols on the reels may bevaried. Also, background scenery (not shown) may be also varied in theenvironment.

A window 208 is rendered over the reels, 202, 204 and 206, to illustratea number of symbols that may be visible on a mechanical slot display. Atmost, nine symbols, e.g. the three double bars, three sevens and threetriple bars may be viewed on the mechanical slot display. When theplayer views multiple symbols, the multiple symbols may be used togenerate multiple paylines that may be wagered on during game play.

When reels on a gaming machine stop after a wager has been received anda game has been initiated, a combination of symbols along a payline maybe compared to winning combinations of symbols to determine an award forthe game. For instance, three paylines 228, 229 and 230 are shown. Three“sevens” symbols are along payline 229. A triple bar, a seven and adouble bar are shown along paylines 228 and 230. Often triple sevencombination is used as a winning combination on slot games. The numberof paylines increases the betting opportunities for a given game andsome players desire multiple payline games. In some slot games, only asingle line of symbols may be viewed, such as the three sevens, and aplayer may bet on only a single payline.

For a game outcome presentation, the slot reels 202, 204 and 206 mayeach begin to rotate and move in the virtual gaming environment. In thevirtual space 200, the reels may rotate in different directions,translate, rotate around different axis, shrink in size or grow in size,as the reels are not limited by the constraints of actual mechanicalslot reels. During the game outcome presentation, a virtual camera,which may vary its position as a function of time, may film a sequence(e.g., generate a number of photographs in a sequence) that aredisplayed on a display screen on the gaming machine and that capture themotion of the reels.

A number of virtual cameras may be positioned in the virtual gamingenvironment 200 to capture one or more symbols on the slot reels. Forinstance, lens 220 of a virtual camera captures the “7” symbol on reel202 in volume 221 of the virtual gaming environment 200. Lens 222 of avirtual camera captures the “triangle” symbol on reel 204 in volume 223of the virtual gaming environment. Lens 224 of a virtual camera capturesa “triple bar” symbol (not shown) on reel 204 of the virtual gamingenvironment. Finally, Lens 226 of a virtual camera captures the “oval”symbol on reel 206 in volume 226 of the virtual gaming environment.However, a single virtual camera may also by used to capture multiplesymbols such as a line of symbols across multiple reels.

The symbols captured from the virtual cameras using lens 220, 222, 224and 226 may be used to create various paylines that may be used forwagering. For example, the symbols captured from lens 220, 222 and 226are used to generate a first combination of symbols 232 which maywagered on during game play. The symbols captured from lens 220, 224 and226 are used to generate a second combination of symbols 234 which maybe wagered on during game play. Finally, virtual cameras may bepositioned along payline 230 to capture the combination of symbols 236.

In the present invention, the number of paylines that may be implementedis quite large. For instance, for three virtual reels with 25 symbols oneach reel, 253 paylines may be utilized. In one embodiment, to aid inthe display of a large amount of gaming information generated in onevirtual gaming environment, gaming information generated in a firstgaming environment may be transferred to a second gaming environment.For example, gaming information regarding combinations of symbols alonga plurality of paylines generated in gaming environment 200 may betransferred to a second gaming environment with virtual cameras forrendering it to a display viewed by a player.

In another embodiment, the slot reels 202, 204, 206 may appeartranslucent such that symbols on the back of the reel may be visiblefrom the front. Paylines, that may be wagered on by a player, may berendered in “virtual space” to connect symbols on the front of a reel toa symbol on the back of the reel. For instance, a payline may berendered from the front of reel 202 to the back of reel 204 and to thefront of reel 206.

Next, other embodiments for displaying symbols that may be used in gamesof chance and bonus games of present invention are described andcontrasted with a traditional mechanical slot machine. In a mechanicalslot game, a reel strip is mounted to a reel that is rotated by a motor.The reel strip may be a rectangular strip of a printable media with anumber of different symbols printed on it. The symbols are arranged in aparticular sequence. A typical mechanical slot game may employ aplurality of reels, such as three reels, to present a game of chance.

The mechanical slot machine may include one or more paytables thatdefine a probability of each position occurring for a single reel/wheelor a probability of each combination of positions occurring for aplurality of reels. For example, some mechanical slot machines include abonus wheel and 3 reels. The probability of each position orcombinations of positions may be proportional to a payout for a game ofchance played on the slot machine. After a wager has been made and thegame has been initiated, to determine an outcome for the game of chance,a random number may be generated and compared with entries in thepaytable stored on the gaming machine.

Using the paytable and the random number, a position of each of the oneor more reels or wheels and a payout for the game may be determined. Theslot machine may then rotate the reels based upon an algorithm stored inthe gaming machine and stop them at the predetermined position. Theposition on each reel is usually marked with a symbol printed on thereel strip at the position or a blank space. Usually, only a portion ofthe symbols on each reel strip is visible to a player at any one time.Thus, as the one or more reels spin, the player views different portionsof each reel strip. The final position of the one or more reelsindicates a symbol or a combination of symbols. The combination ofsymbols displayed on the mechanical reels, as defined by a payline, maybe used by the player to determine whether the combination is a winningcombination.

In FIG. 2, the modeling of 3-D virtual reels in a 3-D gaming environmentwas described. A virtual reel strip comprising a sequence of symbols wasshown mapped to a plurality of positions on the virtual reel in a manneranalogous to a mechanical slot reel. However, as described with respectto FIG. 2, the symbols may be viewed from various vantage points, suchas behind the virtual reels, and the virtual reels may move in manners,such as translating or vibrating, that are not easily duplicated usingmechanical reels. In other embodiments of the present invention, thevirtual reel strip may be mapped to 3-D objects in the 3-D gamingenvironment in a manner that is different from a traditional slotmachine. These embodiments are described as follows.

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams showing a mapping of virtual reel strip to a3-D object for one embodiment of this invention. In FIG. 3A, the virtualreel strip 339 is shown which is a graphical conceptualization relatingthe virtual reel strip 339 to its physical counterpart on a mechanicalslot machine. On the gaming machine, the virtual reel strip 339 may bestored in one or more files that specify the sequence of symbolsrepresented on the virtual reel strip 339 and any logical relationshipsneeded to use the virtual reel strip in a 3-D gaming environment.

The virtual reel strip may comprise a plurality of segments. Forinstance, the virtual reel strip may be N+1 segments long where N is awhole number. A typical value of N is between 30 and 40 but the presentinvention is not limited to this range. Between segment 0 and segment Non the strip 339, there are 10 referenced segments, 343-352. Eachsegment may be mapped to a corresponding symbol and a correspondingindex in a paytable. Thus, the virtual reel strip may define a sequenceof symbols, which is analogous to a physical reel strip.

The virtual reel strip 339 may be generated with generic symbolidentifiers for each type of symbol used on the virtual reel strip. Forinstance, the generic symbol identifiers used in the virtual reel strip339 may be denoted as “symbol 1,” “symbol 2,” “symbol 3”, up to “symbolN” and a sequence of these different symbol types may be stored in afile defining the virtual reel strip 339. The generic symbols may beconsidered as an index in a sequence of indices where the sequence ofindices corresponds to the sequence of symbols in a virtual reel strip.To display the virtual reel strip in a 3-D gaming environment, agraphical object, such as a bitmap of the graphical object, may bemapped to each symbol type used on the virtual reel strip 339. Thegraphical object assigned to each symbol type may be used when thesequence of symbols from the virtual reel strip 339 is generated in a3-D gaming environment.

As an example, one embodiment of the virtual reel strip 339 may usethree types of symbols that are represented by the generic symbolidentifiers, “symbol 1,” “symbol 2” and “symbol 3” and each segment ofvirtual reel strip 339 may be assigned one of these symbols types.Segment 343 may be assigned “symbol 1,” segment 344 may be assigned“symbol 1,” segment 345 may be assigned “symbol 3,” segment 346 may beassigned “symbol 2,” etc. The generic symbol identifier information foreach segment of the virtual reel strip 339 may be stored in a file onthe gaming machine, such as in a table, with pointers to a correspondingpaytable for the sequence of symbols defined for the virtual reel strip.

The use of generic symbol identifiers may allow the look and feel ofvirtual reel strip to be changed and hence a game outcome presentationusing the virtual reel strip to be changed, without changing a paytablethat uses the virtual reel strip. For instance, a virtual reel strip 339may allow for 4 different generic symbol types that are mapped to eachsegment. In one embodiment, a single bar, a double bar and a triple barand a blank space may be mapped to the generic symbol types for thevirtual reel strip 339. In another embodiment, a cherry, a plum, a lemonand a blank space may be mapped to the generic symbol types for thevirtual reel strip 339. In one embodiment, a plurality of graphicalsymbols that may be mapped to the generic symbol types defined for thevirtual reel strip 339 may be stored on the gaming machine and thegaming machine may be capable of allowing a player to select thegraphical symbols that are mapped to the generic symbol types when thevirtual reel strip is used in the 3-D gaming environment.

In FIG. 3B, the virtual reel strip 339 is mapped to a 3-D object 342that may be generated in a 3-D gaming environment 340. The 3-D object342 may be modeled as a cylinder, as was described with respect to FIG.2 although the present invention is not limited to this shape. The 3-Dobject 342 may be a random shape with a number of surfaces used fordrawing symbols corresponding to segments of the virtual reel strip 339.The 3-D object 342 comprises seven positions, 330-336, corresponding toseven surface segments on the cylinder. These seven surface segments onthe cylinder may be used to display symbols corresponding to segments onthe virtual reel strip 339. For instance, the symbols corresponding tosegments, 348, 349 and 350, of the virtual reel strip 339 may be drawnat positions 332, 333 and 334 on the cylinder 342.

A virtual camera 338, as described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, may bepositioned in the 3-D gaming environment 340 to capture the threepositions, 332, 333 and 334, of the cylinder 342 for rendering. Theother positions, 330, 331, 335 and 336, on the 3-D object 342, may notbe visible to the virtual camera 338. The resulting “photograph”captured by the camera is analogous to a mechanical slot display whereonly a portion of each of the reel strips is visible. The cylinder 342may rotate around axis 337 allowing different symbols mapped to each ofits segments to be captured by the virtual camera 338.

An example of a sequence of symbols 341 that may be rendered from thevirtual camera 338 in the 3-D gaming environment 340 is shown in FIG.3C. Three symbols, a “seven,” a triangle and an oval are shown. Thethree symbols correspond to segments 348, 349 and 350 on virtual reelstrip 339 that were drawn at positions 332, 333 and 334. As describedwith respect to FIG. 3A, different combinations of graphical symbols maybe used for each symbol without changing the mathematical model of thevirtual reel strip represented in the paytable. For instance, each “7,”“triangle,” and “oval” used on the virtual reel strip 339 may bereplaced “a cherry,” “a plum” and a “lemon,” respectively in the 3-Dgaming environment 340 without changing the mathematical model used inthe paytable.

In this embodiment, the number of segments on the virtual reel strip 339is greater than the number of positions available on the cylinder 342.Since the cylinder 342 has seven positions available, a sequence of upto seven consecutive segments long from the virtual reel strip 339, suchas segments 0 thru 6, segments 343 thru 349, segments or segments 346thru 352, and their corresponding symbols may be drawn at the 7positions, 330 and 336 on the cylinder 342. By rotating the 3-D object342 about its axis 337 in the 3-D gaming environment 340, differentsequences of symbols from the virtual reel strip 339 may be captured bythe virtual camera 338. Thus, in FIG. 3C, the sequence of symbols 341may change as the cylinder 342 is rotated.

To display a portion of the virtual reel strip, which is greater than 7segments long, seven symbols corresponding to a consecutive sequence ofseven segments from the virtual reel strip 339 may be mapped to the 7positions of the 3-D object at a time. Then, the cylinder may be rotatedaround its axis 337 in the 3-D gaming environment 340. When the cylindercompletes a rotation, such that the end of the sequence of seven symbolsis reached, the next seven symbols corresponding to the next sevensegments on the virtual reel strip 339 may be drawn to 3-D object 342.Thus, by splicing consecutive 7 segment length pieces of the sequence ofsegments in the virtual reel strip 339 to the cylinder, all of thesegments of the virtual reel strip 339 may be displayed. When the lastsegment on the virtual reel strip 339, segment N, is reached, the gamingmachine may jump to the first segment, segment 0, on the virtual reelstrip 339 and begin repeating the sequence defined by the virtual reelstrip 339.

Conceptually, the rotation through the segments on the virtual reelstrip 339 may be viewed as the rotation of a belt moving through an ovalshaped path around the cylinder 342 or as the rotation of a bicyclechain around a spoked wheel. For illustrative purposes only, the virtualreel strip 339 is represented in FIG. 3B in this manner. However,although the virtual reel strip 339 may be drawn as a 3-D object asshown in the figure, it is not necessary for the gaming machine to drawthe virtual reel strip 339 as a 3-D object in the gaming environment340. The gaming machine may logically keep track of the sequence ofsymbols to draw on the cylinder 342 according to the order of symbolsrepresenting the virtual reel strip 339 and may draw the symbols to thepositions on the cylinder 342 as it rotates such that the sequence ofsymbols from the virtual reel strip are displayed.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming machine may becapable of instantaneously jumping to different locations on the virtualreel strip 339 for the purposes of displaying a sequence of symbols in agame outcome presentation using the virtual reel strip that is less thanall of the symbols between two locations on the virtual reel strip. Forexample, a current position on the reel strip that is displayed may besegment 0 and a final position, which is to be displayed, is segment352. Rather than displaying all of the symbols between segment 0 andsegment 352, the sequence of symbols displayed may be segment 0, segment1, segment 2, segment 349, segment 350, segment 351 and segment 352where segments such as, segments 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, betweensegment 2 and segment 349 are skipped. Since the rotating symbols oftenmove so fast that the symbol at each position is indistinguishable andthe sequence is not easily determined, a player viewing the symbolsrendered to the display may not notice the skipping of symbols on thevirtual reel strip.

An advantage of allowing jumps in the display sequence is that thelength of the game outcome presentation may be more finely tuned in thepresent invention than with a mechanical slot game. For example, anumber of symbols to rotate through for each reel and logic for makingan appropriate jump or jumps on the virtual reel strip may be specified.Thus, the presentation time for each game outcome presentation may befixed. In a mechanical slot game, the symbols on the mechanical reels inthe sequence of symbols between to an initial position and a finalposition must all be displayed. Thus, the game outcome presentation timemay vary depending on initial position of reels, the final position ofthe reels and relative position of the initial position and the finalposition.

FIGS. 3D-3E are diagrams showing movement patterns of a 3-D object usedto display a virtual real strip. In FIG. 3D, 8 symbols from 8 segments,343-350, of virtual reel strip 339 (see FIG. 3A) are mapped to a 3-Dobject 380 which may be a cylinder as described with respect to FIG. 2.In another embodiment, the 3-D object 380 may also be anoctagonal-shaped object, like a “stop” sign. The 3-D object 380 may bemodeled in a 3-D gaming environment of the present invention.

The cylinder 380 may rotate around an axis through point 356. Asrotations of the cylinder are completed, different symbols in thesequence comprising the virtual reel strip 339 may be mapped to thecylinder 380. The cylinder may be rotated 355 in a clock-wise or counterclock-wise direction in the 3-D gaming environment. Portions of thecylinder 380 may be captured by a virtual camera 338 in the 3-D gamingenvironment and used as part of a game outcome presentation for a gameof chance played on the gaming machine. The portions of the cylindercaptured depend on the position of the virtual camera. In one example,the virtual camera 338 is positioned to capture three positions of thecylinder 380. Using a cylinder with a larger radius or dividing thecylinder into more positions may be used to allow the virtual camera 338to capture more symbols at one time.

During a rotation sequence of the cylinder 380 for a game outcomepresentation various motion sequences may be applied to the cylinder380. For instance, prior to rotating, the cylinder may be cocked up anddown, then the cylinder 380 may be spun up to a constant rotation rate,the cylinder may spin at a constant rate, then the cylinder may be spundown to a stop. After stopping, the cylinder may bounce down and up in arotational movement around the axis 356. These motions may be used toemulate the motions made by a mechanical reel.

During the rotation sequence, a sequence of symbols from the virtualreel strip may be mapped to the cylinder 380. The symbol displayed at aparticular position on the cylinder may change as a function of time asthe cylinder 380 rotates. As described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C, thesequence of symbols mapped from the virtual reel strip 339 may includejumps of greater than 1 symbol, such that all of the symbols between aninitial position and a final position on the virtual reel strip are notdisplayed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a sequence of symbolsfrom a virtual reel strip 339 may be rendered for the display of a gameoutcome presentation using a portion of a cylinder or a rectangularstrip. The motion of a cylinder portion 357 is described with respect toFIG. 3E in a 3-D gaming environment. The motion of a rectangular stripis described with respect to FIG. 3G.

In FIG. 3E, a portion of a cylinder 357 with four positions for drawingsymbols is shown in a 3-D gaming environment. The four positions mayeach comprise ¼ of the cylinder portion 357. Symbols from segments 347,348, 349 and 350 of the virtual reel strip are drawn at consecutivepositions on the cylinder portion 357. The cylinder portion 357 mayrotate 358 around axis 356 in the 3-D gaming environment. The virtualcamera 338 is positioned in the 3-D gaming environment to capture 3 outof 4 positions on the cylinder portion 357, which spans ¾ the length ofits circumference. In the FIG. 3E, the virtual camera 338 captures thepositions where symbols corresponding to segments 348, 349 and 350 ofthe virtual reel strip 339 are drawn.

To display a sequence of symbols, the cylinder portion 357 may berotated a ¼ turn in the clockwise direction, where a ¼ turn is arotation of the cylinder portion through a length comprising ¼ of itscircumference. After the ¼ turn, the virtual camera 338 captures thesymbols, for segments 347, 348 and 349, and the symbol for segment 350goes beyond the view of the virtual camera 338. Next, the cylinderportion 357 may be instantly redrawn at its initial position before the¼ turn and a new set of symbols may be mapped at each position of thecylinder portion 357. For instance, symbols corresponding to segments346, 347, 348 and 349 may be drawn at each position. Then, the cylinderportion 357 may be again rotated ¼ turn. Repeating the rotation andre-mapping symbols of the cylinder portion in this manner, a series of“photographs” captured by the camera 338 in the 3-D gaming environmentmay appear to show a cylinder with a sequence of symbols rotatingcorresponding to a sequence of symbols defined by the virtual reel strip339.

Using this type of motion and the position of the virtual camera 333,the cylinder portion 357 may appear to mimic the movement of rotatingcylinder in different directions, such as clockwise and counterclockwise. In addition, the cylinder portion 357 may also be cocked up,cocked down, spun up, spun down and bounced as was described with thefull cylinder 380 in FIG. 3D. An advantage of using a cylinder portion,as opposed to a full cylinder, is that it may be faster then renderingan entire cylinder because the polygons defining the full cylinder arerendered even when they are not in view of the camera 338.

FIGS. 3F-3G are diagrams showing a display of a sequence of symbols 360from a virtual reel strip 339 using a 3-D object in a 3-D gamingenvironment. In FIG. 3F, the sequence of symbols 360 that are to bedisplayed on a rectangular strip 362 in a 3-D environment are shown. Thesequence of symbols 360 comprises seven symbols from segments 344-350 ofthe virtual reel strip 339. The order of the seven symbols 360 is anoval, a triangle, a triangle, a seven, a seven, a triangle and an oval.

In FIG. 3G, a sequence of movements for a rectangular strip 362 drawn ina 3-D gaming environment and a mapping of symbols from the sequence ofsymbols 360 as a function of time are described that generate anappearance of cycling through the seven symbols in the sequence 360. Therectangular strip 362 comprises four equal length segments. A virtualcamera (not shown) in the 3-D environment captures a portion of therectangular strip 361 between lines 364 and 365. A portion of therectangular strip above the line 364 or below the line 365 is notcaptured by the virtual camera for rendering as part of a game outcomepresentation.

The symbols on the rectangular strip are described at eight times, t1,t2, t3, t4, t5, t6, t7 and t8 shown on timeline 390. As shown on thetimeline 390, the intervals between times may not be equal. The relativespacing of the times is provided for illustrative purposes only.

At time t1, symbols corresponding to segments 347, 348, 349 and 350 aredrawn on the rectangular strip. The seven, triangle and oval are visibleat this time. Between times t1 and t2, the rectangular strip 362 ismoved in a downward direction as indicated by the arrow. As the stripmoves, the seven comes into view and the oval passes out of view. Thevelocity of the strip 362 may be a constant or may vary with time toprovide different movement effects.

Between time t2 and t3, a new set of symbols may be mapped to therectangular strip 362. The time interval between t2 and t3 may be muchsmaller than the time interval between times t1 and t2. At time t3, therectangular strip 362 is drawn with a new set of symbols correspondingto segments 346, 347, 348 and 349. Since symbol 346 is above the line364, the appearance of the strip 362 that appears on a display screenhas not changed. Between times t3 and t4, the rectangular strip is againmoved downward. During the movement, the triangle at the bottom of thestrip is moved downward and out of view and a triangle appears at thetop of the strip and enters into view.

By repeating the re-mapping and the movements described at times t1, t2,t3 and t4, at times t5, t6, t7 and t8, and rendering the visible portionof the rectangular strip to a display screen on the gaming machine, thesequence of symbols 360 may appear to be cycled through on the displayof the gaming machine. The movement pattern is not limited to a downwardmotion. The movements may be specified to be up or down and may varywith time. For instance, the symbols rendered to a display screen on thegaming machine may appear to move downward through a sequence of symbolson a virtual reel strip for a first game of chance and for a second gameof chance played after the second game of chance, the symbols may appearto move upward through the sequence of symbols on a virtual reel strip.Over time, the rate of motion and direction of motion may be varied togive the virtual reel strips the appearance of being cocked-up, cockeddown, spun-up, spun-down, bounced-up and bounced down.

As described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3B, jumps in the sequence ofsymbols on the virtual reel strip may be introduced to the mapping ofsymbols to the rectangular strips 362. In addition, the method ofmovement described for the rectangular strip 362 may also be applied toa curved strip, such as the cylinder portion described with respect toFIG. 3E. In another embodiment, the method of movement may be applied toa wavy strip (not shown). Further, the method described in FIGS. 3F-3Gmay be applied to simultaneously display symbols from a plurality ofvirtual reel strips for a game outcome presentation of a multi-reelvideo slot game.

Although, the virtual reel strip in FIG. 3G is shown moving in adownward direction, the present invention is not so limited. The virtualreel strips may appear move upwards and downwards in a verticaldirection or when the strips are orientated horizontally, the strips mayappear to move in either sideways direction. In general, the virtualreel strips may be orientated in any direction and move in eitherforwards or backwards along a path defined by the virtual reel strip.When a plurality of virtual strips are rendered for a game outcomepresentation, the virtual strips may be moved in different directionsand with different motion patterns relative to one another.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a parameterized 3-D reel model 500 for aflat reel or round reel for one embodiment of this invention. An exampleof a flat reel model was described with respect to FIG. 3G. An exampleof a round reel model was described with respect to FIGS. 2, 3D and 3E.By specifying parameters of the 3-D model 500, a flat reel or a roundreel object may be created in a 3-D gaming environment of the presentinvention. The parameters of the 3-D reel model 500 may be specified ina script file allowing a designer to easily change the features of the3-D reel model 500.

The parameters of the 3-D reel model 500 may include but are not limitedto, 1) a total number of segments 504, 2) a number of visible segments503, 3) a number of touchable segments 502, 4) a home segment 501, and5) a number of visible segments above a home segment 505. The totalnumber of segments 504 is the number of segments modeled on the 3-D reelmodel 500. In the example in the FIG. 4, the total number of segments is5. In the 3-D gaming environment, when 5 total segments are specified, aflat reel, which may be a rectangular strip with 5 segments, or arounded reel which may be a portion of a cylinder with 5 segments, maybe generated. An example of a rectangular strip with four segments wasdescribed with respect to FIG. 3F and an example of a cylinder portionwith 4 segments was described with respect to FIG. 3D.

In the example in FIG. 4, four visible segments are specified. Thenumber of visible segments 503 may be the number of segments that arerendered by a virtual camera in the 3-D gaming environment. The renderednumber of visible segments may be displayed to a video display on thegaming machine as part of a game outcome presentation for a game ofchance or a bonus game outcome presentation for a bonus game.

In one embodiment, the 3-D reel model 500 may include a number oftouchable segments 502. Three touchable segments are shown in theexample in FIG. 4. When displayed on a touch screen video display, thetouchable segments 502 may correspond to active areas of the touchscreen video display where an input signal may be generated that affectthe game outcome presentation. Input received via one of the touchablesegments 502 may be used to affect a game outcome presentation using the3-D reel model 500. For instance, the input 502 may be used to affectthe motion of the virtual 3-D reel model 500, such as but not limited tostarting the reels to spin, stopping the reels from spinning andaffecting the rate at which the reels spin, in the 3-D gamingenvironment.

The home segment 505 may be the first segment that is used in a paylinefor the game of chance. In the example in FIG. 4, the home segment issegment 01. The number of visible segments above the home segment 501 isvisible segments that may be viewed by the player but are not includedin a payline for the game of chance using the reel. Visible segmentsabove the home segment 501 are used to slide new symbols in to viewwhile the 3-D reel model 500 is spinning.

Next, the further details of configuring a 3-D reel model 500 of thepresent invention are described. First, a 3-D reel model object may bespecified and may be assigned a unique ID or name. The 3-D reel modelobject may be a logical unit that is used by a gaming operating systemto generate the reel specified by the 3-D reel model object in the 3-Dgaming environment. The 3-D reel model object may be parameterized, asdescribed with respect to FIG. 4, to allow a number of features of themodel to be specified.

The ID assigned to the 3-D reel model object may be used for internalreel configuration purposes as well as in communication via sequenceevents with the game presentation components. Details of the gamingsoftware architecture and gaming operating system including sequenceevents that may be used with the 3-D reel model object are described inco-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/040,329, filed on Jan. 3, 2002,by LeMay, et al., entitled, “Game Development Architecture ThatDecouples The Game Logic From The Graphics Logic,” and U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/041,212, filed Jan. 7, 2002, by Breckner, et al, entitled“Decoupling Of The Graphical Presentation Of A Game From ThePresentation Logic,” each of which is incorporated herein by referencein their entirety and for all purposes.

In two different embodiments, the 3-D reel model object may be specifiedas a flat or a rounded reel. Although, as previously described withrespect to FIGS. 3A-G, the present invention is not limited to theseshapes. A “FLAT_MODEL” parameter may be used to specify a flat reel,such as a rectangular strip, and a “ROUND_MODEL” parameter may be usedto specify a round reel, such as a cylinder portion. Using either,“FLAT_MODEL” or “ROUND_MODEL,” as a parameter for the 3-D reel modelobject, may specify these two 3-D models. For reels of different shape,a different shape parameter may be employed. For instance, anoctagonal-shaped reel may be specified using “OCTAGONAL_MODEL” as aninput parameter.

A number of other parameters may be specified in the 3-D reel modelobject as described as follows. “setNumberOfSymbols (uint32number_of_symbols)” is a function that allows the number of differentsymbols used in the model to be specified. The specified number maycorrespond to the number of symbols configured for each virtual reelstrip in a corresponding paytable. “setSymbol (uint32 symbol_index,const char*symbol_file)” is a function that allows a symbol index andbitmap file to be specified for a symbol. There may be one call to“setSymbol ( )” for each unique symbol defined for the virtual reelstrip in the paytable. Further, the index parameter may be selected tobe consistent with the paytable-defined symbol order.

“setNumberOfSegments (uint32 number_of_segments)” is a function thatallows the total number of segments 504 in the reel 3-D model 500 to bespecified. “setHomeSegment (uint32 segment_offset)” is a function thatallows a home segment 505 for the reel 500 to be specified. The homesegment may be the first recognized payable symbol on the reel.“setCentralSegments (uint32 symbol_above_center, uint32symbol_below_center)” is a function that allows offsets of segmentsabove and below the center of the reel 500 to be specified.

“setVisibleSegments (uint32 visible_segments, uint32segments_above_home_segment)” is a function that allows the visiblesegments 503 on the reel 500 to be specified. “setTotalNumberOfSegments(uint32 total_number_of segments)” is a function that may be used tospecify a total number of segments required to configure a complete360-degree model of the reel 500. For instance, when a cylinder portionis used, this function may be used to specify the number of segmentsthat are needed to complete the cylinder portion. While all segments maynot be modeled (i.e., the actual model is just a partial cylinder), thisinformation may be to ensure that the reel spins consistently to thecorrect stop positions. For instance, the total number of segments maybe used to determine a number of degrees spanned by each segment. Thisinformation may be used to determine the rotational distance required torotate through one symbol, which may be employed when specifyingmovements for the reel.

“setTouchableSegment (const char*segment_piece_name, uint32offset_to_home_segment)” is a function that allows touchable segments tobe specified for the reel 500. This function may bind the name of aninvisible model piece to the position of this piece on the reel. Thetouchable segments may allow a player to stop the reel and an operatorto adjust reel stops in the slot evaluation and utility pages bytouching the machine's display screen. “setCurrentSpinChain (constchar*spin_chain_name)” is a function that allows a script filecontaining spinning parameters to be specified for the model 500.

The following is an example of reel model script file that may be usedto configure a reel model object using the functions and parametersdescribed above. The present invention is not limited to the formattingused below for the reel model script file, which may be programminglanguage specific and operating system specific.

Reel Model Script File // Initialize reel 0 Reel (0 /*Reel toinitialize*/) { // Configure parameters of the reel model ReelModel(FLAT_MODEL) { // Initialize the number of reel symbols on this reelsetNumberOfSymbols (3); // Load the Reel symbols setSymbol (0,“Images/Reels/Symbol0.tga”); setSymbol (1, “Images/Reels/Symbol1.tga”);setSymbol (2, “Images/Reels/Symbol2.tga”); // Set the number of segmentsin the reel model setNumberOfSegments (4); // Set the index of segmentthe reel uses as its home // segment (starts from 0) setHomeSegment (1);// Set total number of visible segments and number of // visiblesegments above the home segment. setVisibleSegments (4, 1); // Use thespecified model for the reels geometry useModel(“Models/Reels/reel.model”); } // Set offsets of segments above andbelow the center of the reel setCentralSegments (1, 3); // Set thetouchable segments. setTouchableSegment (“reel0_segment01”, 1):setTouchableSegment (“reel0_segment02”, 2); setTouchableSegment(“reel0_segment03”, 3); // Set the name of SpinChain to be used for thespinning of this reel setCurrentSpinChain (“NormalReelSpin”); }

The “setCurrentSpinChain ( )” in the reel model script file may be usedto call a movement script file, such as “NormalReelSpin,” that specifiesmovement properties for the reel model 500. In one embodiment,translational or rotational movements may be specified in the movementscript file for a flat reel model or round reel model using a series ofcommands or function calls. The examples of functions specifyingdifferent movements is provided for illustrative purposes only and morecomplex movements may be generated for 3-D objects of the presentinvention by just defining different commands or functions describingthe motions. An example of a movement script file, called“NormalReelSpin” is provided below. This movement script file may becalled by the “setCurrentSpinChain( )” function and used as part ofgenerating the movement of the 3-D reel in the 3-D gaming environment.

Movement Script File NormalReelSpin { ReelAnimation { Position { // Setthe spin direction of the reel (FORWARD or BACKWARD) setSpinDirection(FORWARD); setFrame (“0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f”, 1 ); //delay before COCK_UPsetFrame (“0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f”, 40, “COCK_UP” ); setFrame (“0.0f, 0.12f,0.0f”, 70 );//delay before COCK_DOWN setFrame (“0.0f, 0.12f, 0.0f”, 40,“COCK_DOWN” ); setFrame (“0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f”, 750,“SPIN” ); setFrame(“0.0f, −4.208f, 0.0f”, 75, “BOUNCE_DOWN” ); setFrame (“0.0f, −4.265f,0.0f”, 75, “BOUNCE_UP” ); setFrame (“0.0f, −4.208f, 0.0f”, 0,“REEL_STOPPED”); } } }

The order, number and types of functions called may be varied with thepresent invention and is not limited to the example provided above. Thefunction, “setSpinDirection ( )”, may be used to specify whether thereel spins forwards of backwards. In the movement script file above, thereel spins forward. If the reel is displayed vertically and configuredto spin in the forward direction, then the reel will spin from top tobottom. Further, a reel configured to spin in the backward directionwill spin from bottom to top.

Frames may be configured as position or rotation frame types. The“setFrame ( )” function may be used to define reel movement data in the3-D gaming environment. Frame tags may be used to specify which framecorresponds to which reel spinning state. When generating the game ofchance using the reel movement script file, the frame tags may be usedby other logical units executed on the gaming machine to determine thestate of the presentation being generated. An example of frame tagsinclude but are not limited to COCK_UP, COCK_DOWN, SPIN, BOUNCE_DOWN,BOUNCE_UP, and REEL_STOPPED.

In the movement script file example above, the “setFrame( )” functionusing the frame tag “SPIN” is inside of a position object which may beused to designate that the reel position is being modified. As specifiedby the “setFrame( )” function, the SPIN state of the reel movementstarts at the relative reel position (0.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f) and lasts for750 ms. The relative reel position (0.0f, −4.208f, 0.0f) is the finalposition of the SPIN state. This position may be the next frame'sinitial position.

The “setFrame( )” function with frame tag “BOUNCE_DOWN” starts theBOUNCE_DOWN state of reel movement at the relative reel position (0.0f,10.52f, 0.0f) and lasts for 75 ms. The BOUNCE_DOWN state may be used tomake the reel oscillate in the 3-D gaming environment. The BOUNCE_DOWNstate may provide a similar oscillatory motion. The COCK_UP or COCK_DOWNstates may be used to define a small upward or downward motion of thereel prior to beginning or ending its movement. REEL_STOPPED state maybe used to generate the final position of the reel in the 3-D gamingenvironment.

The order, number and types of functions called may be varied with thepresent invention and is not limited to the example provided above. Forexample, multiple “setFrame( )” functions describing the “SPIN” state toprovide different rates of spinning, such as but not limited to 1) aSPIN-UP state where the reel starts spinning or translating from aresting position and reaches a constant angular or translation velocity(in this state, the velocity may vary with time), 2) a SPIN state, asdescribed above, which allows for a constant angular velocity ortranslation velocity, and 3) a SPIN-DOWN state where the reelstransitions from a constant angular or translational velocity to aresting state (in this state, the velocity may vary with time). Thevelocity of spin may be changed using additional “setFrame ( )”functions in the motion script.

Using movement script file or other logic on the gaming machine, aconstant number of symbols to be displayed during the movement of thereels may be specified. For instance, with knowledge of a length of asegment on the 3-D reel model used to display a symbol, the “setFrame()” function may be used to move the 3-D model such that a constantnumber of symbols are displayed during the game outcome presentation.This allows the length of the game outcome presentation to bepre-determined Jumps in the sequence of symbols defined by the virtualreel strip may be required when the final position of the virtual reelstrip requires a movement through a number of symbols on the strip thatis greater than the specified constant number of symbols. Game logic maybe included with the gaming machine to determine the required jumplength, which may vary from game outcome presentation to game outcomepresentation depending on the initial location on the virtual reel stripand a final location on the virtual reel strip.

In some embodiments, the gaming machine may be capable of receivinginputs that allow the reels to be stopped by a player. Therefore, thereels may not move through the specified constant number of symbols butmay move through a number of symbols that is lower than the specifiedconstant number of symbols. Therefore, when the reels are stopped priorto reaching the specified constant number of symbols, game logic may beincluded on the gaming machine that allows for the generation of a newsequence of symbols to be displayed, such as a jump to a new position onthe virtual reel strip.

An advantage of using parameterized models, such as the script filesdescribed above, is reduced software development costs. In the gamingindustry, due to reliability and regulatory requirements, a huge amountof effort and cost is accrued in the code development process. Any codethat is used to generate a game of chance typically has to be approvedby a regulatory agency. Anytime reliable software that has been approvedby a regulatory agency, such as a gaming jurisdiction, can be re-used,the software development costs are lowered. By implementing models thatare parameterized, features of the game outcome presentation can bechanged without changing the underlying code, which would require are-approval, by the gaming regulatory agency. Thus, the methodsdescribed herein can provide reduced software development costs.

FIGS. 5A-5B are a perspective drawing of a 3-D wheel model and 3-Dsphere used to display symbols on a virtual reel strip of the presentinvention. In FIG. 5A, the 3-D wheel 514 is a cylinder and is generatedin a 3-D gaming environment 510. The 3-D wheel is divided into 12sections on the top 511 and mapped to 12 symbols from a virtual reelstrip with segments 543 through 554. The 3-D wheel 514 may be dividedinto a larger number of sections or a smaller number of sections. Theodds of the 3-D wheel 514 stopping at a particular position and symbolmay be defined in a corresponding paytable. The 3-D wheel 514 may beused as part of game outcome presentation for a game of chance, a bonusgame or combinations thereof where an award may be based upon a positionof the wheel.

The 3-D wheel 514 may translate in 3 dimensions in the 3-D gamingenvironment 510 according to the general 3-D curve 512. The 3-D curvemay be defined in a movement script file, as described with respect toFIG. 4, or in other formats that provide the necessary data to generatethe 3-D curve 512 and allow the 3-D wheel 514 to move along it. Whilemoving along the 3-D curve 512, the 3-D wheel 514 may also rotate aroundaxis 511 and axis 513 according to a specified rotation profile as afunction of time for each axis. Again, the rotational motion may beprovided in a movement script file. In general, a plurality of differentaxis' may be defined for rotational movement in the 3-D gamingenvironment.

In one embodiment, the top 520 and bottom 521 of the 3-D wheel 524 maybe mapped to a virtual reel strip. For example, the 3-D wheel may beflipped like a coin to convey a 50-50 probability of a game outcome fora virtual reel strip with two segments and two associated symbols. Inanother example, the 3-D wheel 514 may spin around axis 513 like ashooting target. A game player playing the gaming machine may initiatethe shot at the target. When the 3-D wheel 514 is shot, it may spinaround axis 513 and then stop with either a top side 520 or a bottomside 521 facing towards a virtual camera where the top side and thebottom side display different symbols. Based upon which symbol is facingtoward the virtual camera when the 3-D object stops spinning, an awardmay be made in a game outcome presentation for a game of chance or abonus game. A plurality of the 3-D wheels spun in this manner may beused in a shooting gallery bonus game where combinations of symbolsprovide the basis for presenting a game outcome.

In another embodiment, the top 520, the bottom 521 and the side of the3-D wheel may be mapped to a virtual reel strip. For instance, the 3-Dwheel may rotate around axis 511 to display the symbols on the top 520of the 3-D wheel 514 captured by a virtual camera in the 3-D gamingenvironment, then flip to its side to display symbols one the edge ofthe 3-D wheel 514, and then flip to the bottom to display symbolsdisplayed on the bottom 521 of the wheel. The number of segments on thetop 520 and the bottom 521 of wheel 514 do not necessarily have to beequal. When the 3-D wheel 514 has cycled through the top, side andbottom, then the pattern of motion may be repeated until the 3-D wheelstop at a particular position. The mapping of virtual reel strip todifferent surfaces of a 3-D object and then proscribing a motion to the3-D object that displays the symbols in an order that displays all ofthe symbols according to the order defined to virtual reel strip may beapplied to many different types of 3-D shapes and is not limited to the3-D wheel shape 514 shown in the figure.

In FIG. 5B, a sphere 519 is generated in a 3-D gaming environment 510.The sphere 519 is divided into 12 sections and mapped to 12 symbols froma virtual reel strip with segments 543 through 554. Only segments544-549 from the virtual reel strip are visible. The sphere may bedivided into a larger number of sections or a smaller number ofsections. The odds of the sphere 514 stopping at a particular positionand symbol that is captured by a virtual camera in the 3-D gamingenvironment 510 may be defined in a corresponding paytable. The sphere519 may be used as part of game outcome presentation for a game ofchance, a bonus game or combinations thereof where an award may be basedupon a position of the wheel.

The sphere 519 may translate in 3 dimensions in the 3-D gamingenvironment 510 by traveling along the general 3-D curve 517. The 3-Dcurve 517 may be defined in a movement script file, as described withrespect to FIG. 4, or in other formats that provide the necessary datato generate the 3-D curve 512. In FIG. 5B, the curve 517 is defined toprovide a bouncing motion for the sphere 519. While moving along the 3-Dcurve, the 3-D wheel 514 may also rotate around axis 516 and axis 518according to a specified rotation profile as a function of time formovements about each axis. Again, the rotational motion may be providedin a movement script file. In general, a plurality of different axis'may be defined for rotational movement in the 3-D gaming environment.

As described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3B, a cylinder portion may be usedto display symbols from a virtual reel strip. For instance, a virtualcamera may be positioned above the top 520 of the 3-D wheel 514, suchthat only segments 554, 543, 544 are visible and the cylinder is a slicecontaining segments 353, 354, 343, 344. By rotating the cylinder througha rotation around axis 511 comprising only 1 segment at a time and thenredrawing the cylinder at its initial position, then re-mapping thesymbols to the cylinder segments, the cylinder portion may be used tocycle through a virtual reel strip. A similar approach may be employedfor the sphere where a virtual camera is positioned in the 3-D gamingenvironment 510 such that the camera only captures one side of thesphere. Therefore, it may not be necessary to render the backside of thesphere in the 3-D gaming environment.

FIGS. 6A-6B are diagrams of two 3-D virtual gaming environments used todisplay symbols on virtual reel strips that may be used in a gameoutcome presentation for a game of chance or a bonus game. In oneembodiment of the present invention, a virtual reel strip may be mappedto a plurality of 3-D objects in a 3-D gaming environment that move in aprescribed pattern of motion. For example, in FIG. 6A, a plurality ofrectangular objects move in a cyclical manner out of tunnel 581 and intotunnel 582 along conveyor belts 583 in a clockwise manner in the gamingenvironment 580. The rectangular boxes and conveyor belts may be set ina mine or a factory. The rectangular boxes include symbols from segments344-352 of virtual reel strip 339 in FIG. 3A. As the rectangular boxesmove in and out of the tunnels, a sequence of symbols defined by thevirtual reel strip 339 may be mapped to the rectangular boxes such thatthe symbols on the virtual reel strip are sequentially displayed.

The conveyor belts may start from a resting position, speed up, move ata constant speed and slow down to a final position. When the conveyorbelts are at rest, the initial sequence of symbols displayed on therectangular boxes may correspond to a first sequence of symbols from thevirtual reel strip. Using a paytable corresponding to the reel strip, afinal position on the virtual reel strip may be selected that allows asecond sequence of symbols displayed on the rectangular to be generated.Next, the conveyor belts may rotate and symbols may be mapped to therectangular boxes until the second sequence of symbols is generated onthe plurality of boxes. The conveyor belts may rotate fast enough sothat the symbols are not readable on the rectangular boxes allowing forjumps in the sequence of symbols defining the virtual reel strip.

As with the reel models described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3F and 4,variable rates of motion and directions of motions may be specified forthe conveyor belts 583. Further, the gaming machine may be capable ofreceiving inputs from a player that allows the conveyor belts to startspinning and stop spinning. One or more positions where the conveyorbelts are located may be used to indicate awards. For instance, an awardmay be indicated by the symbol on the rectangular box that stops at theposition of box 348. The 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environment 580may be rendered to a display screen of the gaming machine as part of agame outcome presentation for a game of chance or a bonus game.

In FIG. 6B, another embodiment of the present invention is describedwhere a sequence of symbols defined by three virtual reel strips aremapped to a plurality of moving objects in a virtual gaming environment450. In FIG. 6B, three streams of symbols flow from floodgates of a dam.The dam, the symbols, the water and scenery may be modeled as 3-Dobjects in the 3-D gaming environment 450 and may be rendered to adisplay screen of the gaming machine as part of game outcomepresentation for a game of chance or a bonus game. Each stream carriessymbols mapped from a separate virtual reel strip. The first streamdisplays symbols corresponding to segments 343-348 of a first virtualreel strip 339, the second stream displays symbols corresponding tosegments 451-456 from a second virtual reel strip and the third streamdisplays symbols corresponding to segments 551-556 from a third virtualreel strip.

A payline 460 defines a combination of symbols from the three streams.Multiple paylines are possible with the present invention and it is notlimited to a single payline. Using a paytable, a final combination ofsymbols displayed at the payline 460 may be determined.

When the game is initiated, the floodgates may be closed and no watermay be flowing. The symbols may rest on ledges on the dam and on theground below the dam. When the game is initiated, the flow gates mayopen and water-carrying symbols down the dam and into the water belowdam may begin to flow. The water may flow faster or slower and atdifferent rates analogous to the reels spinning faster or slower asdescribed with respect to FIG. 4. As the symbols representing the finalcombination approach the payline, the floodgates may close cutting offthe water and the final combination of symbols, as determined from thepaytable for the game, may come to rest on the payline 460. Then, anaward for the final combination may be indicated.

The present invention is not limited to the two scenarios describedabove for mapping symbols to a sequence of objects generated in a 3-Dgaming environment. Many different types of 3-D objects may be used forthe sequence of objects. Further, many different types of themes, otherthan the mine, factory or dam as described in FIGS. 6A and 6B, may beused as backgrounds for a sequence of objects used to display a sequenceof symbols from a virtual reel strip and the present invention is notlimited to the examples described in the figures.

In FIG. 6C, the display of virtual reel strips in a 3-D gamingenvironment 700 is further generalized. This example is provided forillustrative purposes only and the present invention is not so limited.In the figure, objects with symbols from three virtual reel strips areshown originating from three object sources 705, 710 and 715. Thesymbols may be drawn on the front face of a 3-D rectangle so that theyare visible to a user when rendered to the display screen, although, anygeneral 3-D shape in which the symbols are visible when rendered may beused as objects including essentially 2-D objects with a minimalthickness.

The solid lines with arrows illustrate the trajectories of the objectsin the 3-D gaming environment 700. In general, an object's trajectorymay be any 3-D curve through the 3-D gaming environment 700. Furtherdetails of generating object trajectories in a 3-D environment includingcollisions is described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.10/187,343, filed on Jun. 27, 2002, by Brosnan et al. and titled,“Trajectory Based 3-D Games of Chance for Video Gaming Machines,” whichis incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

The rectangular boxes with the symbols move through the space of 3-Dgaming environment 700. When the boxes pass near or through the circle706, some are captured and land at 9 designated spots on a planeincluding the circle 706. Boxes with symbols, 455, 453, 344, 346, 553and 554 occupy six of the designated spots. Three of the designatedspots, 701, 702 and 703 are unoccupied.

Objects may emerge from the object sources, at various time intervals.The order of symbols drawn on the 3-D objects as they emerge from eachof the object sources, 705, 710 and 715, may be determined from avirtual reel strip as previously described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3G.The symbol drawn on each object that will land on one of the nine spotsmay be pre-determined using a pay-table and a random number generator inthe same manner as a video slot game. The trajectories of the 3-Dobjects may be selected so that the objects with the pre-determinedsymbols land on the designated spots, such as 701, 702 and 703.

Other objects that do not correspond to the pre-determined symbols aregiven trajectories that fly past the designated spots. The 3-D objectsthat do not land on a designated spot may appear to fly off the screenor collide with other symbols and be destroyed. For example, an objectwith symbol 552 that originated at object source 705 appears to collideat location 720 with an object with symbol 456 that emerged from objectsource 715. In another embodiment, the objects may bounce off of oneanother after a collision and then fly off the screen.

In FIG. 6C, one object source 705 is located so that the objectsoriginating from the object source 705 appear to be off in the distancewhen they are rendered. The objects from this source may appear to growlarger as they approach the circle 706. For instance, the box withsymbol 451 from source 705 may increase in size as it approaches thedesignated spot 703.

The other two object sources 710 and 715 are located so that the objectsoriginating from them appear to be closer when rendered and viewed onthe display screen. As these objects, approach the circle 706 and moveoff into the distance they may appear to shrink in size. In oneembodiment, the object sources may be located so that they are notapparent when rendered to the display as part of a game outcomepresentation. In a particular embodiment, the object sources and thetrajectory of the objects may be located in a single plane, such as aplane parallel to the view of the display screen. Thus, when the planeis parallel to the view of the display screen, the objects may notappear to shrink or grow in size and may appear to remain at the samedistance when rendered to the display screen.

When all of the nine spots are filled, the nine symbols on therectangular boxes in the designated spots may be used to indicate anaward based on various combinations of symbols along a payline, such aspayline 460. The combinations of symbols and pay-offs for eachcombination may be derived and in analogous manner to a combination ofsymbols used in a slot game with 3 reels. For example, the positions ofsymbols, 455, 453 and 451 may correspond to three symbols visible on areel strip connected to a mechanical slot reel in a gaming machine andthe other two columns may correspond to symbols that would be displayedon two additional slot reels. In other embodiments, symbol combinationsmay be derived from 5 reel slot games or other multi-reel slot games maybe used.

In particular, the object sources are not limited to a particularlocation in the 3-D gaming environment and their location may vary withtime. Further, one or more object sources may be used and the number ofobject sources may change with time. For example, objects with symbolsmapped from three different virtual reel strips may appear to streamfrom object source 705. As another example, each of three virtual reelstrips may be mapped to one of the corresponding object sources, 705,710 and 715. In another embodiment, the object source may appear to bean object rather than a point in space. For instance, object source 705may be drawn as a spinning reel with symbols. Rectangular boxes with thesymbols may appear to be thrown off the wheel. These symbols may land atthe designated spots or fly by the designated spots and off the screen.

In a particular embodiment, the rectangular boxes may be stacked to formcolumns. For instance, three games where 9 rectangular boxes aregenerated in each game may be stacked to form 9 columns each with threeboxes. One column with three boxes with respective symbols 553, 555, 556is shown in the figure. The symbols on the stacked boxes may be used togenerate vertical paylines, such as 730. In one embodiment, the outcomesfrom three games may be linked where the combination of symbols on avertical payline may be used as bonus multipliers or to provideadditional win opportunities.

In another embodiment, the columns may be built unevenly. For instance,a vertical column may only be created when certain symbols appear on abox and land on top of a stack of one or more boxes. Boxes with these“growth” symbols may appear at random and at different positions. Thus,the height of each column may be variable. When a column reaches acertain height, a bonus or an additional award may be won. Additionally,in a particular embodiment, boxes with other symbols may appear thatknock over a column. In this case, an award or bonus is only awarded ifa column reaches a set height before toppling. In this example, thebottom of each stack may correspond to the current game being played.Boxes for the current game may knock out the boxes at the bottom of eachstack from the previous game with or without knocking over any stacksthat are two or more boxes high.

In FIGS. 6A-6C, methods of displaying symbols from a virtual reel stripin a 3-D gaming environment are described. In a traditional video slotgame, the symbols on each real are drawn in two-dimensions. The symbolson each “reel” enter the screen from the top, travel in a straightvertical line and exit at the bottom. The present invention is not solimited. As described above, the entrance and exit points on the screenare not limited to a fixed spot on the top and bottom of the screen andmay vary with time. Further, the number of entrance points may bevaried. In addition, the symbols may be moved along linear andnon-linear paths that vary with time and where symbols paths may benon-linear. Further, because the symbols are drawn in a 3-D gamingenvironment, the symbols, when rendered to the display screen, mayappear to grow or shrink as if they were moving off into the distance ormoving closer.

An advantage of these methods is that a more variable game outcomepresentation may be provided to the user while utilizing paytables andsymbols combinations derived for multi-reel video slot games. Thevariable game outcome presentations may be more interesting to a playerover time and encourage additional game play. The ability to usepaytables and symbol combinations derived for multi-reel video slotgames may reduce software development costs for the game of chance.

Turning to FIG. 7, a video gaming machine 2 of the present invention isshown. Machine 2 includes a main cabinet 4, which generally surroundsthe machine interior (not shown) and is viewable by users. The maincabinet includes a main door 8 on the front of the machine, which opensto provide access to the interior of the machine. Attached to the maindoor are player-input switches or buttons 32, a coin acceptor 28, and abill validator 30, a coin tray 38, and a belly glass 40. Viewablethrough the main door is a video display monitor 34 and an informationpanel 36. The main display monitor 34 will typically be a cathode raytube, high resolution flat-panel LCD, plasma/LED display or otherconventional electronically controlled video monitor. The gaming machine2 includes a top box 6, which sits on top of the main cabinet 4. Asecond display monitor 42 may be provided in the top box. The seconddisplay monitor may also be a cathode ray tube, high resolutionflat-panel LCD or other conventional electronically controlled videomonitor.

Typically, after a player has initiated a game on the gaming machine,the main display monitor 34 and the second display monitor 42 visuallydisplay a game presentation, including one or more bonus games,controlled by a master gaming controller (not shown). The bonus game maybe included as a supplement to the primary game outcome presentation onthe gaming machine 2. The video component of the game presentationconsists of a sequence of frames refreshed at a sufficient rate on atleast one of the displays, 34 and 42, such that it appears as acontinuous presentation to the player playing the game on the gamingmachine. Each frame rendered in 2-D on display 34 and/or 42 maycorrespond to a virtual camera view in a 3-D virtual gaming environmentstored in a memory device on gaming machine 2.

One or more video frames of the sequence of frames used in the gamepresentation may be captured and stored in a memory device located onthe gaming machine. The one or more frames may be used to provide a gamehistory of activities that have occurred on the gaming machine 2.Details of frame capture for game history applications are providedco-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/689,498, filed on Oct. 11, 2000by LeMay, et al., entitled, “Frame Buffer Capture of Actual Game Play,”which is incorporated herein in its entirety and for all purposes.

Returning to the gaming machine in FIG. 7, the information panel 36 maybe a back-lit, silk screened glass panel with lettering to indicategeneral game information including, for example, the denomination ofbills accepted by the gaming machine (e.g. $1, $20, and $100). The billvalidator 30, player-input switches 32, video display monitor 34, andinformation panel are devices used to play a game on the game machine 2.The devices are controlled by the master gaming controller (not shown),which is located inside the main cabinet 4 of the machine 2.

In the example, shown in FIG. 7, the top box 6 houses a number ofdevices, which may be used to input player tracking information or otherplayer identification information into the gaming machine 2, includingthe bill validator 30 which may read bar-coded tickets 20, a key pad 22,a florescent display 16, and a camera 44, and a card reader 24 forentering a magnetic striped cards or smart cards. The camera 44 may beused to generate player images that are integrated into a virtual gamingenvironment implemented on the gaming machine. The keypad 22, theflorescent display 16 and the card reader 24 may be used to enter anddisplay player-tracking information. In addition, other input devicesbesides those described above may be used to enter player identificationinformation including a finger print recording device or a retinascanner. Methods and apparatus for capturing a player's image to a videoframe is described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/689,498, by LeMay et al. filed on Oct. 11, 2000 and titled “FrameBuffer Capture of Actual Game Play” is incorporated herein in itsentirety and for all purposes.

In addition to the devices described above, the top box 6 may containdifferent or additional devices than those shown in the FIG. 7. Forexample, the top box may contain a bonus wheel or a backlitsilk-screened panel, which may be used to add bonus features to the gamebeing played on the gaming machine. During a game, these devices arecontrolled and powered, in part, by the master gaming controllercircuitry (not shown) housed within the main cabinet 4 of the machine 2.

Understand that gaming machine 2 is but one example from a wide range ofgaming machine designs on which the present invention may beimplemented. For example, not all suitable gaming machines have topboxes or player tracking features. Further, some gaming machines haveonly a single game display—mechanical or video, while others aredesigned for bar tables and have displays that face upwards. As anotherexample, a game may be generated in on a host computer and may bedisplayed on a remote terminal or a remote gaming device. The remotegaming device may be connected to the host computer via a network ofsome type such as a local area network, a wide area network, an intranetor the Internet. The remote gaming device may be a portable gamingdevice such as but not limited to a cell phone, a personal digitalassistant, and a wireless game player. Images rendered from 3-D gamingenvironments may be displayed on portable gaming devices that are usedto play a game of chance. Further a gaming machine or server may includegaming logic for commanding a remote gaming device to render an imagefrom a virtual camera in a 3-D gaming environments stored on the remotegaming device and to display the rendered image on a display located onthe remote gaming device. Thus, those of skill in the art willunderstand that the present invention, as described below, can bedeployed on most any gaming machine now available or hereafterdeveloped.

Returning to the example of FIG. 7, when a user selects a gaming machine2, he or she inserts cash through the coin acceptor 28 or bill validator30. Additionally, the bill validator may accept a printed ticketvoucher, which may be accepted by the bill validator 30 as an indicia ofcredit. Once cash or credit has been accepted by the gaming machine, itmay be used to play a game on the gaming machine. Typically, the playermay use all or part of the cash entered or credit into the gamingmachine to make a wager on a game play. During the course of a game, aplayer may be required to make a number of decisions, which affect theoutcome of the game. For example, a player may vary his or her wager,select a prize, or make game-time decisions, which affect the game play.These choices may be selected using the player-input switches 32, themain video display screen 34 or using some other device which enables aplayer to input information into the gaming machine including a key pad,a touch screen, a mouse, a joy stick, a microphone and a track ball.

Using input devices such as but not limited to the player-input switches32, the main video display screen 34 or using some other device whichenables a player to input information into the gaming machine includinga key pad, a touch screen, a mouse, a joy stick, a microphone and atrack ball, properties of 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environment andthus, the corresponding presentation of these 3-D objects rendered toone or more of the display screens on the gaming machine may be altered.For instance, in 3-D gaming environment with a rotating object, such asbut not limited to rotating reel, rotating wheel, rotating reel segment,or a rotating sphere, the gaming machine may be capable of receivinginput via one of the input devices, that starts an object spinning,stops an object spinning or affects a rotation rate of the object. Inanother example, the gaming machine may be capable of receiving inputvia one or more input devices, that initiates translational movement inone or more 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environment, stoptranslational movement or affects a rate of translation movement.

In general, the gaming machine may be capable of receiving inputinformation for controlling a plurality motion parameters for 3-Dobjects in the gaming environment. The motion parameters may varydepending upon degrees of movement freedom modeled for a particular 3-Dobject. The input information may be used to alter a game outcomepresentation, a bonus game outcome presentation or any other type ofpresentation generated on the gaming machine.

In some embodiments, to change the format of a game outcome presentationon the gaming machine or to utilize different gaming machine functions,the player may use an input device on the gaming machine to control avirtual camera in a virtual gaming environment implemented on the gamingmachine. For instance, a player may use the virtual camera to “zoom in”or “expand on demand” a portion of the virtual gaming environment suchas one poker hand of a hundred poker hands displayed on display screen34. In another example, the game player may alter the game outcomepresentation, such as the view or perspective of the game outcomepresentation, by controlling the virtual camera. In yet another example,the player may be able to select a type of game for game play on thegaming machine, select a gaming environment in which a game is played,receive casino information or obtain various casino services, such asdinner reservations and entertainment reservations, by navigatingthrough a virtual casino implemented on the gaming machine. The virtualcasino may correspond to the actual casino where the gaming machine islocated. Thus, the virtual casino may be used to give the playerdirections to other portions of the casino.

In other embodiments of the present invention, CAD/CAM models of thegaming machine 2 may be used to generate a virtual 3-D model of thegaming machine. The virtual 3-D model may be used to visuallydemonstrate various operating features of the gaming machine 2. Forinstance, when a player-tracking card is inserted incorrectly in thecard reader 24, the virtual 3-D model of the gaming machine may be usedto display a visual sequence of the card being removed from the cardreader 24, flipped over and correctly inserted into the card reader 24.In another example, a visual sequence showing a player inputting aninput code on the keypad 22 may be used to prompt and show the playerhow to enter the information. In another example, when the gamingmachine 2 is expecting an input from the player using one of the playerinput switches 32, the virtual 3-D model of the gaming machine may beused to display a visual sequence of the correct button on the gamingmachine being depressed. In yet another example, the manner in which abill or ticket is inserted into the bill validator may be shown to theplayer using a sequence of photographs generated from the 3-D model.

During certain game events, the gaming machine 2 may display visual andauditory effects that can be perceived by the player. These effects addto the excitement of a game, which makes a player more likely tocontinue playing. Auditory effects include various sounds that areprojected by the speakers 10, 12, 14. Visual effects include flashinglights, strobing lights or other patterns displayed from lights on thegaming machine 2 or from lights behind the belly glass 40. The abilityof a player to control a virtual camera in a virtual gaming environmentto change the game outcome presentation may also add to the excitementof the game. After the player has completed a game, the player mayreceive game tokens from the coin tray 38 or the ticket 20 from theprinter 18, which may be used for further games or to redeem a prize.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting a method for generating a game outcomepresentation from a virtual gaming environment. In 600, after receivinga wager for one or more games played on a gaming machine, an inputsignal is received on the gaming machine to initiate a game of chance.The input signal may be input by a player using a various input devicesavailable on the gaming machine, such as input buttons and a touchscreen. In 602, one or more game outcomes are determined for the one ormore games initiated by the game player. Typically, a game outcome isdetermined by generating one or more random numbers and comparing thenumbers with a paytable stored on the gaming machine.

In 603, based upon the one or more game outcomes determined in 602, oneor more game outcome presentations are rendered in a 3-D virtual gamingenvironment in the gaming machine. In 604, at least one virtual camerain the 3-D gaming environment is used to render a sequence of 2-Dprojection surfaces (e.g. images) derived from three-dimensionalcoordinates of surfaces in the 3-D gaming environment. As described withreference to FIG. 2, the position of the virtual camera may vary withtime. In 606, the sequence of rendered 2-D projection surfaces isdisplayed to one or more game display screens on the gaming machine aspart of a game outcome presentation or a bonus game presentation. In608, the game outcome (e.g. an amount awarded for one or more games) isdisplayed to the display screen. The method described above is notlimited to game outcome presentations. Other types of gaming informationsuch as attract mode presentations, maintenance operation information,game operation information and casino information may be generated in a3-D virtual gaming environment and displayed to a display screen on thegaming machine. Further, transition screens that allow a smoothtransition between different gaming presentations may also be generatedand displayed on the display screen. For instance, a transition screenmay be generated to for a display a smooth transition between a gameoutcome presentation and a bonus game.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart depicting a method for generating a gamepresentation using a virtual reel strip in a 3-D virtual gamingenvironment. In 610, a final state on or more virtual reel strips isdetermined. The final state may be generated from a paytable as part ofa game outcome presentation 602, as described in FIG. 8. In 612, amaster gaming controller on the gaming machine may determine a sequenceof symbols to display from the one or more virtual reel strips. Thesequence of symbols may comprise all or a portion of the symbols betweenan initial state on the virtual reel strip and the final state on thevirtual strip defined for the virtual reel strip.

As described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3G and 4, when displaying symbolsfrom the virtual reel strip, the present invention may allow for one ormore jumps between a first location on the virtual reel strip to asecond location on the virtual reel strip. For the jump, the sequence ofsymbols on the virtual reel strip between the first location and thesecond location may not be displayed. However, the missing symbols inthe sequence may not be noticeable in a rendering of the 3-D gamingenvironment displaying the symbols because the motion of the symbols maybe too fast to allow a viewer of the symbols to determine which symbolsare actually displayed.

In 614, the sequence of symbols for each virtual reel strip may bemapped to one or more surfaces on 3-D objects in the 3-D gamingenvironment. For instance, the sequence of symbols in 612 may be mappedto a single flat reel or single round reel which moves in a manner thatallows the sequence of symbols to be displayed, as described withrespect to FIGS. 2, 3A-3G, 4, 5A and 5B. As another example, thesequence of symbols from a virtual strip in 612 may be mapped to asequence of 3-D objects that move in the 3-D gaming environment, such asthe two examples described with respect 6A and 6B.

In 616, a motion of the one or more 3-D surfaces that allows thesequence of symbols to be displayed may be determined. For instance,when the symbols are displayed on a rounded reel in the 3-D gamingenvironment, the angle to rotate the reel through and the rate ofrotation for the rounded reel may be determined. The motion of the 3-Dobjects may be affected by input received through one or more inputdevices on the gaming machine. For instance, based upon player input, agenerated reel may spin faster or slower. In 618, the determined motionof the 3-D surfaces in 616 with the mapped symbols from 614 aregenerated. As described with respect to 604 and 606 in FIG. 8, asequence of two-dimensional projection surfaces rendered from the 3-Dsurfaces in the 3-D gaming environment may be displayed to the displayscreen as part of a game outcome presentation.

In 620, a stop command may be received to stop the game outcomepresentation. For instance, as described with respect to FIG. 4, a reelgenerated in the 3-D gaming environment may include one or moretouchable segments that allow the reel to be stopped in response to aninput received on a touch screen on the gaming machine. In 620, when astop command is received, a new sequence of symbols to display may bedetermined in 612 and then 614, 616 and 618 may be repeated. When a stopcommand is not received, in 624, the final state of the 3-D surfaces inthe 3-D gaming environment may be generated and rendered to the displayscreen. The final state of the 3-D surfaces may include a combination ofsymbols that correspond to a determined game outcome for the game ofchance.

FIG. 10 is a block diagrams of gaming machines that utilize distributedgaming software and distributed processors to generate a game of chancefor one embodiment of the present invention. A master gaming controller250 is used to present one or more games on the gaming machines 61, 62and 63. The master gaming controller 250 executes a number of gamingsoftware modules to operate gaming devices 70, such as coin hoppers,bill validators, coin acceptors, speakers, printers, lights, displays(e.g. 34) and other input/output mechanisms (see FIGS. 13 and 14). Themaster gaming controller 250 may also execute gaming software enablingcommunications with gaming devices located outside of the gamingmachines 61, 62 and 63, such as player tracking servers, bonus gameservers, game servers and progressive game servers. In some embodiments,communications with devices located outside of the gaming machines maybe performed using the main communication board 252 and networkconnections 71. The network connections 71 may allow communications withremote gaming devices via a local area network, an intranet, theInternet or combinations thereof.

The gaming machines 61, 62 and 63 may use gaming software modules togenerate a game of chance that may be distributed between local filestorage devices and remote file storage devices. For example, to play agame of chance on gaming machine 61, the master gaming controller mayload gaming software modules into RAM 56 that may be may be locatedin 1) a file storage device 251 on gaming machine 61, 2) a remote filestorage device 81, 2) a remote file storage device 82, 3) a game server90, 4) a file storage device 251 on gaming machine 62, 5) a file storagedevice 251 on gaming machine 63, or 6) combinations thereof. The gamingsoftware modules may include script files, data files and 3-D modelsused to generate 3-D objects in the 3-D gaming environments of thepresent invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, thegaming operating system may allow files stored on the local file storagedevices and remote file storage devices to be used as part of a sharedfile system where the files on the remote file storage devices areremotely mounted to the local file system. The file storage devices maybe a hard-drive, CD-ROM, CD-DVD, static RAM, flash memory, EPROM's,compact flash, smart media, disk-on-chip, removable media (e.g. ZIPdrives with ZIP disks, floppies or combinations thereof. For bothsecurity and regulatory purposes, gaming software executed on the gamingmachines 61, 62 and 63 by the master gaming controllers 250 may beregularly verified by comparing software stored in RAM 56 for executionon the gaming machines with certified copies of the software stored onthe gaming machine (e.g. files may be stored on file storage device251), accessible to the gaming machine via a remote communicationconnection (e.g., 81, 82 and 90) or combinations thereof.

The game server 90 may be a repository for game software modules andsoftware for other game services provided on the gaming machines 61, 62and 63. In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming machines61, 62 and 63 may download game software modules from the game server 90to a local file storage device to play a game of chance or the gameserver may initiate the download. One example of a game server that maybe used with the present invention is described in co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/042,192, filed on Jun. 16, 2000, entitled“Using a Gaming Machine as a Server” which is incorporated herein in itsentirety and for all purposes. In another example, the game server mightalso be a dedicated computer or a service running on a server with otherapplication programs.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the processors used togenerate a game of chance may be distributed among different machines.For instance, the game flow logic to play a game of chance may beexecuted on game server 92 by processor 90 while the master gamingcontroller 250 may execute the game presentation logic on gamingmachines 61, 62 and 63. The gaming operating systems on gaming machines61, 62 and 63 and the game server 90 may allow gaming events to becommunicated between different gaming software modules executing ondifferent gaming machines via defined APIs. Thus, a game flow softwaremodule executed on game server 92 may send gaming events to a gamepresentation software module executed on gaming machine 61, 62 or 63 tocontrol the play of a game of chance or to control the play of a bonusgame of chance presented on gaming machines 61, 62 and 63. As anotherexample, the gaming machines 61, 62 and 63 may send gaming events to oneanother via network connection 71 to control the play of a shared bonusgame played simultaneously on the different gaming machines or ingeneral to affect the game play on another machine.

FIG. 11 is a perspective drawing of two gaming machines in a 3-D virtualgaming environment 300 implemented on a gaming machine for oneembodiment of this invention. In the gaming environment 300, two gamingmachines 302 and 304 with components, such as a main display 306, asecondary display, input buttons 310, a coin hopper 312 and a coinacceptor 318 are modeled in coordinate space 301. Other features of thegaming machines are described with respect to FIG. 5.

Three “photographs” 320, 321 and 322 from virtual cameras with lenses314, 316 and 318 are shown. Photograph 320 shows a slot game display onthe virtual gaming machine 302 and photograph 321 shows a bonus gamedisplay on the virtual gaming machine 304. Both photographs may bedisplayed on an actual display on the physical gaming machine. During agame outcome presentation, a virtual camera with lens 314 may show agame outcome on virtual main display 306 on gaming machine 302 and thenwhen a bonus game is triggered the position of the virtual camera may becontinuously moved to the position of 316 to capture the bonus gamedisplay on virtual secondary display 308 on gaming machine 304. When aplayer wins an award, the virtual camera may move to a position overvirtual hopper 312 and virtual coins may be added to the hopper tosimulate a win.

In another embodiment of the present invention, each gaming machine 302and 304 may show a different game on its virtual main display. A playermay be able to move a virtual camera in gaming environment 300 usinginput buttons on the real gaming machine to select either the gamedisplayed on gaming machine 302 or the game displayed on gaming machine304 for a game play. In another example, the player may be able toselect both gaming machines 302 and 304 for simultaneous game play andmake a single wager or separate wagers for the games played on eachmachine. The game player may then operate the virtual camera to examinethe game outcome for each game such as zoom-in on one of the displays ongaming machine 302 or 304.

The gaming machines may be modeled from CAD/CAM drawings of actualgaming machines or other modeling formats. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the physical gaming machine on which a game is playedmay be modeled as a virtual gaming machine in a virtual gamingenvironment such as 300. The virtual gaming machine in the virtualenvironment may be used to demonstrate various operating and maintenancefeatures for the real gaming machine. For example, when a player needsto press an input button to play a game, a virtual input button 323being depressed (see photograph 322) modeled from the physical gamingmachine may be shown on the display screen of the gaming machine to aidthe player. As another example, a player may be shown how to correctlyinsert a player tracking card into a card reader on the gaming machineusing the virtual gaming machine. In yet another example, the player maybe shown how to perform an electronics funds transfer, how to view analternate video presentation or how to view other entertainment contentavailable on the gaming machine. In another embodiment, a player may berequired to use an electronic key with a gaming device connected to thegaming machine. For example, an electronic key may be used to gainaccess a particular function on the gaming machine. The electronic keymay be compatible with one or more communication protocols used by thegaming device such as but not limited to wire communication protocolslike USB, serial, parallel, Firewire and wireless communicationprotocols like IrDA, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b and Bluetooth.

Various maintenance procedures may be modeled in the virtual gamingenvironment which may be used to aid a person performing a maintenanceoperation on the gaming machine. A virtual 3-D maintenance manual may bestored on the gaming machine or on a remote host accessible to thegaming machine. For instance, a procedure for adding paper to printer onthe gaming machine may be modeled in a 3-D virtual gaming environment.When a casino service person changes the paper in the printer, a 3-Dsimulation of the procedure using a virtual model of gaming machine 302with printer 309 may be rendered on the display screen of the actualgaming machine to aid the service person.

FIG. 12 is a perspective drawing of a virtual casino in a 3-D virtualgaming environment 400 implemented on a gaming machine for oneembodiment of this invention. The virtual casino may be an actual modelof the casino where the game is being played. The virtual casino ismodeled with banks of gaming machines, such as 410 and 412,architectural features, such as window and balcony 420 and wall 418,gaming tables 406, walkways, such as 404 and 408, a casino kiosk 402with a kiosk display 403, pillars and arches. The virtual casino ismodeled in coordinate system 401.

The virtual casino may be used by the player to select various games toplay on the physical gaming machine by operating a virtual camera 422 inthe 3-D gaming environment 400. For instance, the player may be able toposition the virtual camera to select between games played on gamingmachines 414 and 416 or a table game played at table 406. The player orgaming program may move the camera 422 to follow path 404 or 408 toenter a different room as part of a game presentation. For example, aplayer may be shown a “treasure” or secret room as part of bonus game onthe gaming machine. The treasure room may correspond to a themeconsistent with the theme of the casino.

When the actual casino where the gaming machine is located is modeled inthe gaming machine, a player may use the virtual casino to explore andlocate various casino features such as restaurants and shops or locateanother game player in the casino. Also, the virtual casino may also beused to give the player directions. As another example, the virtualcasino may be used to locate other player and perhaps initiate aconversation with another player (e.g. instance messaging). Further, thevirtual casino may be used by the player as an interface to obtaingaming information and casino services. For instance, the player may goto the virtual kiosk 403 to obtain information about their playertracking account, to redeem a prize or make dinner/entertainmentreservations. As another example, a player may go to a virtual bar or avirtual café to order a drink or a snack.

The present invention is not limited to windows arranged in anessentially planar manner on the display screen, i.e. rectangularwindows arranged side by or over-layered on top of one another. A 3-Dinterface may be employed where the game windows are arranged in 3-Dgeometric pattern. In one embodiment, the 3-D interface may be a virtual3-D gaming environment used to organize gaming information for viewingby a game player. FIGS. 13 and 14 are perspective drawings of a 3-Dinterface 800 for a gaming machine for one embodiment of the presentinvention.

In FIG. 13, six 3-D game windows are arranged on a display screen 802.Five of the 3-D game windows, 804, 808, 811, 812 and 814 are arranged ina cubic manner and one game window, 816, is displayed on a surfaceessentially parallel to the display screen. The cubic arrangement of thewindows may be generated by rendering an open box in a 3-D virtualgaming environment. The five sides of the box are each used as a gamewindow. Next, the game information shown in each of the five 3-D gamewindows are rendered to the 5 sides of the box. Then, a virtual camerapositioned directly above the box may be used to render the photographdisplayed on the display screen 802. With this approach any of themethods described above with regard to manipulating a virtual camera ina virtual camera in a 3-D gaming environment may be applied to the 3-Dinterface 800.

In FIG. 13, game window 804 is used to display attract information, gamewindow 814 is used to display a bonus slot reel game, game window 812 isused to display a slot game, game window 808 is used to display amulti-hand card game and game window 811 is used to display a gamingtutorial. The displaying of information in the 3-D interface 800 mayinvolve multiple transformations and rendering in different gameenvironments. For instance, the multi-hand card game may be rendered ina first gaming environment. Then, a virtual camera in the first gamingenvironment may be used to generate a photograph showing a portion ofthe multi-hand card game (e.g. 3-D to 2-D transformation). Then, thephotograph may be rendered in the game window 808 in the 3-D interfacevirtual environment (2-D to 2-D transformation). Next, a virtual camerain the 3-D interface environment may be used to render a photographincluding game window 808 which is displayed on at least one displayscreen on the gaming machine (3-D to 2-D transformation). Gameinformation may also be directly rendered into game windows in the 3-Dinterface virtual environment. For instance, the attract information ingame window 804 may be directly rendered in the 3-D interface virtualenvironment.

The information in each of the windows is mapped to a particular side ofthe cube in the 3-D interface gaming environment. In one embodiment, auser of the 3-D interface may be able manipulate the mapping of the gamewindows. For example, a user may be able to exchange the position ofvarious game windows such as exchanging the position of windows 811 andwindow 812 (see FIG. 14). When the game windows are exchanged, the 3-Dinterface may appear to rotate or move in some manner and other gamewindows may appear on the display screen while other windows may moveoff of the display screen. As another example, when the mapping ischanged, the game windows may be re-rendered with the game informationin each of the windows swapped.

Game window 816 is used to convey game window information about activegame windows on the display screen 802. An “active game window” is agame window that may be operated actively by a user of the gamingmachine. The user may use an input mechanism on the gaming machine suchas a touch screen or mouse with cursor 803 to select a window foractivation. In FIG. 13, the active game window is 811 which is beingused to present a tutorial for playing a card game. Game 816 indicatesthat the tutorial is for “Pai gow poker.” The user may move a cursorover different game windows in the 3-D game interface to obtaininformation about each game window. For instance, when the cursor 803 ismoved from game window 811 to game window 812, the information in thegame information window 816 may change to indicate that game window 812is a slot game.

In one embodiment, the game windows may contain shared information. Forinstance, the multi-hand card game window 808 may be a shared game whereeach of the three card hands is played by a different player and theplayers are competing against one another. Therefore, the game window808 may be used to participate in a card game tournament but also engagein other activities while watching the activities occurring in the gametournament. As another example, two players may be able to compete in agame of checkers. In another example, the bonus game 814 window maydisplay a bonus game that is triggered by the activities of multipleplayers linked together on different gaming machines. Further, the bonusgame may be visible to each of the players participating in the bonusgame.

The players playing the shared game may be participating via differentgaming machines. To share the game, the gaming machines may be linkedvia a local area network, a wide area network or combinations thereof. Aremote gaming device in communication with a group of gaming machines,such as game sharing server or a tournament game server, may also beused to enable game sharing between groups of gaming machines.

Updates of game windows may occur in a simultaneous manner. Thus, whilea game player is using a first game window, information in other gamewindows may be updated. For instance, while the game player is watchingthe tutorial in game window 811 updates of the multi-hand card gamewindow 808, such as cards being dealt, may be occurring. As anotherexample, a live video feed such as sporting event may be viewed in oneof the game windows. As the live video feed is continually updated, thegame player may play a game of chance in one of the other game windows.

In another embodiment, the multi-hand card game in the multi-hand cardgame window 808 may be a multi-hand poker game. The multi-hand pokergame may be rendered in a 3-D multi-hand poker hand gaming environment.The number of hands rendered may range from 1 to a very large number ofhands (e.g. millions) However, a thousand poker hands may be a practicalupper limit. In this game, the player may select the number of hands tobe played by betting. The player may select coins (wager amount) perhand and increment the bet until the player reaches the desired numberof hands or all the hands available for betting (e.g. the maximumnumber) have been selected. The maximum number of hands available forbetting may be some reasonable limit, such as 1000. The maximum numberof hands can be set in the gaming machine such is in the gameconfiguration or paytable configuration.

In one embodiment of the multi-hand poker game generated in a 3-D gamingenvironment, the player initiates a game and a first hand consisting offive cards is dealt with the types of cards showing (e.g. face card ornumber card as well as a suit). The remaining hands are dealt showingonly card backs. When the player holds a card, the other hands show thesame hold cards, When a player unholds, the other hands unhold. When theplayer selects redraw, the hands all start drawing the new cards fromunique decks (with the original hold cards removed from all of them). Todisplay the game, a virtual camera could fly over each of hands as theyare being rendered to generate an effect similar to the text at thebeginning of star wars (e.g. the hands appear to be scrolling up thescreen in “space”, shrinking and disappearing into the horizon as thehands move farther away. Once the virtual camera reaches the last hand,it can reset to the main hand i.e., the original dealt hand, which nowhas its own unique rendered cards. The user could also manually controlthe camera to review the cards, or start playing again. In addition, thecards could be displayed in multiple game windows of the 3-D interface800.

In FIG. 14, another embodiment of the 3-D interface 800 is shown. Thecubic arrangement of the windows has been reduced in size in the displayscreen 802 as compared to FIG. 13. An important advantage of the presentinvention is the ability to scale objects (either larger or smaller) andthen render objects in the virtual gaming environment with properperspective. When 2-D objects are scaled by any significant amount, thescaling can distort the rendered objects reducing the quality of anygraphics presentation using the scaled 2-D object.

On the display screen 802 in FIG. 14, the mapping of the game windowshas been changed as compared to FIG. 13. The tutorial game window 811has been exchanged with the slot game window 812. The slot game windowhas become the “active” window as indicated by the cursor 803. The gameinformation window indicates that the player has wagered 3 credits onthe slot game shown in the slot game window 812 and has 100 creditsavailable for game play.

The bonus game window 814 in FIG. 13 has been replaced with 5 additionalgame windows 818 arranged in a cubic pattern. These game windows may beselected by a user and rotated into view to replace game windows 804,808, 811 and 812. The present invention is not limited to thearrangement of game windows as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 which arepresented for illustrative purposes only. A 3-D game interfaceenvironment may be generated that uses nearly an unlimited variety ofgame window arrangements. For example, the game windows may be arrangedon any combination of different polyhedron surfaces. Some game windowsmay be rendered on curved game surfaces and the colors of different gamewindows may vary to aid a user in identifying various features of the3-D game interface. For instance, the active game window may bedisplayed with a green border.

Two additional game windows, 820 and 822 around game windows, 804, 806,808, 811, 812 and 818. Game window 820 displays scrolling news whilegame window 822 displays casino event information. Game windows 820 and822 may be used to display button menus, game service menus,entertainment content and any other type of information that may bedisplayed in any other game window. In one embodiment, game windows 820and 822 may be displayed and then removed. When the game windows, 820and 822, are removed the other game windows in the screen may beenlarged to fill the space occupied by game windows 820 and 822. Theshrinking and enlarging of the windows may be initiated by a playerplaying the game or may be triggered by game events occurring duringgame play on the gaming machine.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart depicting a method of playing a game on a gamingmachine using a 3-D interface. In 1000, a 3-D game interface isgenerated. The 3-D game interface comprises a plurality of game windowsarranged within a 3-D game interface model or environment as describedwith respect to FIGS. 13 and 14. In 1002, game window content is mappedto each of the 3-D game windows in the 3-D game interface model. Thegame window content may be a game of chance, bonus game, entertainmentcontent as previously described, or even a blank window. The game windowcontent map may be used to allow the contents in each of the gamewindows to be redistributed in different game windows to create a newgame window content map. For example, as described above, the content intwo game windows may be swapped.

In 1004, the game window content in each game window is rendered to thegame window. In one embodiment, a first two-dimensional projectionsurface (e.g., an image from a virtual camera) derived from a 3-Dcoordinates of a first surface in a 3-D gaming environment may berendered to one or more of the game windows in 3-D game interface model.In 1006, a virtual camera in the 3-D game interface model may be used torender a second two-dimensional projection surface derived from a 3-Dcoordinates of a second surface in the 3-D game interface model. In1006, the rendered second two-dimensional projection surface may bedisplayed to at least one display screen on the gaming machine. In 1010,one or more games of chance may be presented on the gaming machine usingone or more of the 3-D game windows in the 3-D game interfaces. Aspreviously described, multiple games of chance presented in multiplegame windows may be played in a sequential or parallel manner.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart depicting a method of displaying gameinformation on a gaming machine. In 1100, a first game window with afirst size is generated on a display screen on the gaming machine. Thefirst game window may be part of a 3-D game interface comprisingmultiple game windows as described with respect to FIGS. 13, 14 and 15.In 1102, a first two dimensional projection surface derived from 3-Dcoordinates a surface in a 3-D gaming environment (e.g., an image from avirtual camera in the 3-D gaming environment), is rendered to fit withinthe size of the first game window. In 1104, the rendered firsttwo-dimensional projection surface is displayed in the first game windowon the display screen.

In 1106, the first game window is reduced to a second size. In 1108, thesame game window content is rendered to fit within the reduced firstgame window. The game window content of the first game window may beheld constant during a game window size transition but may be latervaried after the transition of the game window to the new size.Therefore, a second projection surface derived from the same 3-Dcoordinates of the surface in the 3-D gaming environment as in 1102 isrendered accounting for the new window size. In 1111, the secondtwo-dimensional projection surface is displayed in the reduced firstgame window on the gaming machine.

To account for a change in game window size, the rendering may involveadjusting the parameters of a transformation performed by a virtualcamera in the 3-D gaming environment to produce a “photograph” that fitsin the window. This transformation may be performed while the 3-Dcoordinates of a captured surface in the 3-D gaming environment remainconstant. In addition, the transition between the first game window sizeand the second game window size may be gradual. Thus, the first gamewindow may be rendered in a series of sizes going from the first size tothe second size where the 3-D coordinates of the captured surface in the3-D gaming environment remain constant but the “photograph” from thevirtual camera is rendered to fit in each of the window sizes generatedduring the transaction. The method is not limited to reducing the sizeof game windows and may also be applied to increasing the size of gamewindows.

In 1112, one or more new game windows may be generated in the displayspace created by the reduction in size of the first game window. In1114, information such as but not limited to game information, attractinformation, entertainment content, player preference information andgaming machine operational information may be displayed in the new gamewindows. In one embodiment, the new game windows may be removed and thefirst game window may be returned to its original size.

An input location on a display screen of a gaming machine is often animportant parameter for operating a gaming machine. The input locationon the display screen may be used to determine whether an input buttonmodeled on the display screen has been activated. The input location ona display screen may be determined from a cursor location on the displayscreen or an input to a touch screen on top of the display screen. Thecursor may be moved by a mouse, touch pad or joystick on the gamingmachine. Then, a input location of the cursor may be specified by usingan input mechanism on the gaming machine. For instance, a user may hitan “enter button” on a mouse or a joy-stick.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail forpurposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certainchanges and modifications may be practiced within the scope of theappended claims. For instance, while the gaming machines of thisinvention have been depicted as having top box mounted on top of themain gaming machine cabinet, the use of gaming devices in accordancewith this invention is not so limited. For example, gaming machine maybe provided without a top box or a secondary display. Both of thesetypes of gaming machines may be modeled in a virtual gaming environmentstored on a gaming machine.

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming system comprising: ahousing; a processor; a display device supported by the housing; aplurality of input devices supported by the housing and including anacceptor; and a memory device that stores a plurality of instructionsthat, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operatewith the display device and the plurality of input devices to: (a)establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary valueassociated with a physical item after the acceptor receives the physicalitem; (b) place a wager on a play of a wagering game in response toreceipt of an actuation of a wager button, wherein the credit balance isdecreasable by the wager; (c) randomly generate and display a pluralityof symbols at a plurality of symbol display areas, wherein each of aplurality of different paylines is associated with a different pluralityof the plurality of symbol display areas, the paylines including a firstpayline and a second payline each associated with a same symbol displayarea; (d) replicate the symbols displayed at the symbol display areasassociated with the first payline and display the replicated symbols ofthe first payline separate from any displayed replicated symbols of anyother paylines; (e) replicate the symbols displayed at the symboldisplay areas associated with the second payline and, at least partiallywhile displaying the replicated symbols of the first payline, displaythe replicated symbols of the second payline separate from any displayedreplicated symbols of any other paylines; (f) determine and display anyawards associated with the displayed symbols, wherein the credit balanceis increasable by any awards; and (g) initiate a payout associated withthe credit balance in response to receipt of an actuation of a cashoutbutton.
 2. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes a plurality ofreels including the plurality of symbols, wherein each reel isassociated with two or more of the plurality of symbol display areas. 3.The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of instructions,when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with thedisplay device to randomly generate and display the plurality of symbolsat the plurality of symbol display areas by spinning and stopping thereels.
 4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the reels are mechanicalreels.
 5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofinstructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor tooperate with the display device to, for each payline, replicate thesymbols displayed at the symbol display areas associated with saidpayline and display the replicated symbols separate from any displayedreplicated symbols of any other paylines.
 6. The gaming system of claim1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to operate with the display device to,for each of the at least one payline, display the replicated symbols ina horizontal arrangement, regardless of the orientation of said payline.7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of at leastone payline is not oriented horizontally.
 8. The gaming system of claim1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to operate with the display device tosimultaneously display all replicated symbols.
 9. The gaming system ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by theprocessor, cause the processor to operate with the display device todisplay the wagering game in a first window and to display additionalcontent in a second different window.
 10. A method of operating a gamingsystem, said method comprising: (a) causing a processor to establish acredit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associatedwith a physical item after an acceptor supported by a housing of thegaming system receives the physical item; (b) causing the processor toplace a wager on a play of a wagering game in response to receipt of anactuation of a wager button, wherein the credit balance is decreasableby the wager; (c) causing the processor to randomly generate and operatewith a display device to display a plurality of symbols at a pluralityof symbol display areas, wherein each of a plurality of differentpaylines is associated with a different plurality of the plurality ofsymbol display areas, the paylines including a first payline and asecond payline each associated with a same symbol display area; (d)causing the processor to replicate the symbols displayed at the symboldisplay areas associated with the first said payline and operate withthe display device to display the replicated symbols of the firstpayline separate from any displayed replicated symbols of any otherpaylines; (e) causing the processor to replicate the symbols displayedat the symbol display areas associated with the second payline and, atleast partially while displaying the replicated symbols of the firstpayline, operate with the display device to display the replicatedsymbols of the second payline separate from any displayed replicatedsymbols of any other paylines; (f) causing the processor to determineand operate with the display device to display any awards associatedwith the displayed symbols, wherein the credit balance is increasable byany awards; and (g) causing the processor to initiate a payoutassociated with the credit balance in response to receipt of anactuation of a cashout button.
 11. The method of claim 10, whichincludes a plurality of reels including the plurality of symbols,wherein each reel is associated with two or more of the plurality ofsymbol display areas.
 12. The method of claim 11, which includes causingthe processor to randomly generate and operate with the display deviceto display the plurality of symbols at the plurality of symbol displayareas by spinning and stopping the reels.
 13. The method of claim 11,wherein the reels are mechanical reels.
 14. The method of claim 10,which includes causing the processor to, for each payline, replicate thesymbols displayed at the symbol display areas associated with saidpayline and operate with the display device to display the replicatedsymbols separate from any displayed replicated symbols of any otherpaylines.
 15. The method of claim 10, which includes causing theprocessor to, for each of the at least one payline, operate with thedisplay device to display the replicated symbols in a horizontalarrangement, regardless of the orientation of said payline.
 16. Themethod of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of at least one paylineis not oriented horizontally.
 17. The method of claim 10, which includescausing the processor to operate with the display device tosimultaneously display all replicated symbols.
 18. The method of claim10, which includes causing the processor to operate with the displaydevice to display the wagering game in a first window and to displayadditional content in a second different window.
 19. The method of claim10, which is at least partially provided through a data network.
 20. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the data network is an internet.